Experimetal and numerical analysis of steel scaffoldings under vertical loads

Abstract EN

Steel scaffoldings used in the shuttering of concrete works are temporary movable space steel structures which must have special treatment in analysis and in the calculation of the maximum working load.

The types of scaffolding under study in this research are grouped into three groups with different spans and heights and constant width.

The study has been divided into numerical and experimental investigations.

The numerical analysis includes Eigen value analysis to determine the elastic buckling loads, as well as nonlinear analysis to determine the ultimate loads.

The experimental program includes testing for some cases with total height 4.0m.

The numerical model was verified by comparing its results with the experimental one.

The different buckling modes of failure have been plotted.

In addition, the relation between the buckling length factor, K, and the total height of the scaffoldings has been determined.

Moreover, tables and charts indicating the ultimate loads and the buckling factors are represented for the different types of scaffoldings.

Finally, the factor of safety for the frame work under analysis has been evaluated considering the allowable stress design method in the Egyptian code of practice.

Results reflect that this factor of safety is less than that considered in Egyptian code of practice, especially in the elastic range.