Basic parametric study on corrugated web girders with cut outs

This paper presents a basic parametric study on steel girders with trapezoidally corrugated webs having cut outs. A finite element analysis is carried out to investigate the effect of cut outs in corrugated webs. This FE-modelling is conceived in ANSYS because of the program’s significant capability to account for the web stresses and out-of-plane buckling failure modes. The Finite element model of corrugated web plates is calibrated with theoretical study and finally a parameter study with a scope of application of cut outs in girders with corrugated web plates is performed. This procedure includes the influence of web height, length of parallel part, depth of corrugation, web configuration, location of cut out and its diameter. The analytical study shows that the influence of geometry of corrugated sheets with cut outs on the load capacity and buckling behaviour of the girder can be significant. With the help of the finite element model, the eigenvalue buckling analysis is carried out for all parameter combinations. The local buckling coefficients and the accompanying failure mechanisms are determined for several heights of web and for a wide range of the horizontal eccentricity of the cut out. With the help of this numerical research, design specifications are recommended in line with Eurocode 3.