Web openings in horizontally curved composite plate girders

The paper is concerned with the effects of circular or square web openings on the ultimate strength of horizontally curved composite plate girders. Finite element analysis using the computer package LUSAS has been employed to investigate the behavior and ultimate strength capacity of the girders with web openings of different proportions. The opening sizes and their locations within the web panels have been studied in detail, and the results are presented in the form of load–deflection and load–opening size plots. An approximate method to determine the ultimate strength capacity of horizontally curved composite plate girders accounting for the presence of web openings and composite action between the steel girder and concrete slab is presented. The accuracy of the method is established by comparing the predicted strength with the corresponding values predicted by the finite element method.