Experimental and Numerical Studies on Shear Buckling Behavior of Corrugated Web Steel Girders with Cutouts

Openings are essential in bridges, industrial and commercial buildings in order to provide access for ducts, cables and other services. Due to the presence of such opening in web region, the shear resistance of the web plate decreases. In this study, experimental and numerical investigations are carried out to investigate the influence of circular-shaped cutouts in corrugated web steel girders. The parametric study includes the influence of web height, web thickness and diameter of cutouts on the shear buckling behavior. Shear capacity and buckling modes are compared for girders with and without cutouts. Mainly two shear buckling modes are observed for the corrugated web steel girders with cutouts namely: global and interactive shear buckling mode. The behavior observed from the experimental and numerical studies is that the corrugated web girder with cutout does not lose its shear capacity even if the web depth is increased. Also, obtained results are compared with available theoretical models published by the previous researchers. The shear capacity of corrugated web steel girders with cutout is found to be accurate and reasonably well for design purpose in comparison with the existing models developed by the previous researchers with the current study test results which shall be recommended for design.