Load bearing capacity of compound box or I-girders with corrugated steel web

Abstract

Since the 1960s, there has been ongoing research of using box or I-girders with corrugated webs. Because of its advantages, the steel corrugated webs are widely used in bridge constructions. Developments concerning the girder compositions are continually implemented to improve certain attributes of the structure. This thesis is a part of an overarching research project with as aim, determining the load bearing capacities of composite and hybrid box and I-girders with a trapezoidal corrugated steel web. The conducted literature review forms a basis for the study. With this acquired information, the load bearing capacities, namely the shear and bending capacities, are hand calculated. The results from these hand calculations are used in the FE-modelling of the specimens. The found results from the hand calculations and the FE-modelling are verified and used to determine the correct experimental setup. The experimental phase itself, to verify the computational results, is not part of this project. The aim of the diploma thesis is to check the conceptional design of the laboratory tests and to predict the bending and shear buckling resistance and the M-V interaction behaviour of the composite or hybrid girders with trapezoidal corrugated web. Further aim is to verify that the capacity of the Structural Laboratory of the Department of Structural Engineering at BME is sufficient for the planned research program.