Design of Plate Girder

• Rolled Steel Section becomes inadequate

• when span is large and
• loads are heavy ( in halls, workshop, bridges)
• If the rolled sections are marginally inadequate,
• Rolled steel sections are strengthened using cover plates
• For heavier loads, need for larger (deeper) sections
DESIGN OF PLATE GIRDERS • Sections are assembled
• Using two or more rolled steel sections or welded together
(called Compound Sections)  Not Economical
• Using Angle/channel sections to make Trussed Structures
• Large moment resisting capacity, however,
• Problems due to erection, vibrations, andimpact
• Using plates (as web and flange) to make Plate Girder
• I shaped sections using plates (as web and flange)
• For economical design, cover plates are provided

• Moment capacity between assembled rolled sections and

trusses
• Preferred for spans > 10 m,
• Can be assembled of any size
• If, different yield strength steels are used for weband
flanges sections are called hybrid members
• Strong strength steel in high stress zone, and weaker
steels in low stress zones
• The elements of Plate Girders may be assembled using
• Welds (No angles are required)
• Bolted connections (angles are required)
• Bolted sections suitable for span between 15m to 30m
• Welded plate girders may be used up to 100m span
• now a days welded sections are used

Components of Plate girder Components of Plate girder Cont…..

• Web • Stiffeners are provided to avoid buckling
• Flanges • Two types of stiffeners
• Longitudinal (horizontal) stiffeners
• Transverse (Vertical) stiffeners
• End stiffeners (for high reaction) stiffeners
• Intermediate Stiffeners (for conc. Loads)

1
 Components of Plate girder Cont…..
• Splices
• Used to join webs and to join flanges,
• Web splices
• Provided when required web length is not available
• Flange splice
• Provided when required flange length is not available
• Cover plates
• Provided to strengthen the flanges in the high moment zone

For cross section to be efficient in in-plane bending

• Maximum material is placed as far away from the neutral axis
as possible.
• Flanges are kept as far apart as possible.
• Due to more depth, axial forces in the flanges decreases,
• Needs smaller area of cross section
• However, this would also mean that the web would be deep and
thin (since more material is provided inflanges)
• Due to thin web, possibility of premature failure of the girder
due to web buckling in shear
• To avoid web buckling (due to shear), need to provide
• Thin web with vertical and hor. stiffeners (costly fabrication) , or

• A thicker web with no stiffening

• Better option to be examined for economical design

Behavior of Plate Girder:

In Plate Girders
• Most of the Moment is Resisted by flanges
• Most of the shear is Resisted by webs
• Near the support
• Moment almost zero and shear maximum
• Principal stresses becomes diagonal (45O w.r.t. x-axis)
• Diagonal tension (along major P. stress)
• No problem, since steel is strong in tension
• Diagonal compression ((along minor P. stress)
• Causes buckling in web
• Buckling of web may be controlled by limiting either
• by limiting the (d/tw) ratio of web, or
• by providing web stiffeners in web

2
 • If stiffeners are provided, then
• Plate girder behaves as Pratt Truss
• Top Flange behaves as compression chord
• Bottom Flange behaves as Tension chord
• Vertical stiffeners behaves at vertical chords
• Web behaves as diagonal member
• Web experiences Tensile force along the diagonal as
shown in Figure

Note: The arrows indicate the forces acting on Members,

rather than on joints.

• Diagonal tension resisted by web panel is Called Behavior of Plate Girders Cont…..
tension field action • Modes of failure of a plate girder are
• Diagonal Compression Causes buckling in the web • yielding of the tension flange
• buckling of section in compression
• Compression flange buckling may be due to
• vertical buckling into the web,
• Local buckling in flange, or
• Lateral torsional buckling in flange.
• Strength of Plate girders depend on
• Post-buckling strength of the webs (in addition to flange strength)

Vertical Buckling of Web

Behavior of Plate Girders Cont….. Tension Field Action Concept

• At high shear locations in the girder web (normally near the supports • As the web begins to buckle,
and the neutral axis) • Web loses its ability to resist the diagonal compression.
• Principal planes, inclined to the longitudinal axis of member • Diagonal compression is then transferred to the transverse
stiffeners and the flanges.
• Along the principal planes, • Vertical component is supported by the stiffeners and
• Diagonal tension and • Horizontal component is resisted by flanges.
• does not cause any serious problem • Web resists only the diagonal tension

• Diagonal compression
• causes the web to buckle
• To minimize the Buckling problem,
• Reduce the depth to thickness ratio of the web, or
• Provide web stiffeners to form panels that would enhance
the shear strength by developing tension field action

3
• The behavior of Plate girder under the Tension Field Actions is Strength of Web
very similar to a Pratt truss, where • Total strength of the web is made up of
• vertical members carry compression and
• the tension is carried by the diagonals • the web strength before buckling and
• the post buckling strength developed due to tension field
action.
• Suitably spaced intermediate stiffeners, are provided todevelop
tension field action and to improve the shear capacity of web.
• Main purpose of these stiffeners is to provide stiffness to the
web rather than to resist the applied loads.
• Additional stiffeners, called bearing stiffeners, are provided at
points of concentrated loads, to protect the web from the direct
compressive loads.
• They can simultaneously act as intermediate stiffeners also.
• The contribution of the tension field action is realized only after
the web starts to buckle • Application of concentrated loads on the top flange may
• Post buckling strength is calculated after the effectiveness produce web yielding, web crippling, and side-sway web
tension field action. buckling.

PROPORTIONING OF WEB (b) Web Thickness When only Transverse Stiffeners are provided
WEB THICKNESS:
• Minimum Web Thickness based on Serviceability criterion d
• Web thickness with Stiffeners 200 w when 3d cd
tw
• For painted webs : Not Less Than 6 mm
• For unpainted webs c
• When exposed : Not Less than 8 mm  200 wwhen 0.74d  c d
tw
• When not exposed : Not Less than 6mm
• Web thickness without longitudinal Stiffeners:
d
 270 when
w c  0.74 d t
(a) Web Thickness When Transverse Stiffeners are not provided w

When web connected to Flange along both Longitudinal edges Where, c = Distance between stiffeners
d tw  200w NOTE:
When web connected to Flange along one Longitudinal edge only • If c > 3d web is considered un-stiffened
d tw  90w

(c) Web Thickness When Transverse Stiffeners and one longitudina (d) Web Thickness When Transverse Stiffeners and two
stiffener (at 0.2d from compression flange) are provided Horizontal Stiffeners (one at 0.2d from compression flange
and other at NA position) are provided
• In this case, (d/tw) is increased by 25% as compared to without
d
horizontal stiffener  400 w
tw
d Where,
 250 w when 2.4d  c  d d = depth of web,
tw tw = thickness of web;
c c = spacing of transverse stiffeners;
 250 wwhen 0.74d  c  d
tw  w  250 f yw
d
 340 wwhen c  0.74 d Fyw = yield stress of the web
tw

4
Thickness of Web based on Buckling of Compression Flange Proportioning of Web
• If web is thin • In deciding the depth of web, it is assumed that whole moment
• buckling of web in compression zone in vertical direction is resisted by flanges only when (d/tw) > 67 (for shear to be resisted
• To Avoid web buckling, sufficient web thickness to be provided by webs only)

• Web thickness to avoid buckling of Compression Flange

• When transverse stiffeners are not provided
d
345 2f
tw
• When transverse stiffeners are provided
d
345 2f for c 1.5d
tw
d
 345  f for c  1.5d
tw
When, (d/tw)  67:
Where, f 250 f yf Whole of the
When, (d/tw) > 67:
Only Flanges
Section Resists
and f yf  yield stress for compression flange
Resist Moment
Moment

Thus, If it is assumed that moment is resisted by flanges only (d/t ) > 67),
w
Determination of Optimum Depth of Web
d d
M z f by t f 
f f b t y f f fb t d yf f For minimum gross area, differentiating w.r.t d
2 2
Gross cross-section area; A 2b f t f  d tw 2Mz d2
A 
To determine tw, eliminate bf tf using first equation; k tw f y k

b f tf 
Mz d A d  2M z d  d   
2

fy d d d  dd d f y  d d  k 
2Mz
A 2 bf tf d t w  A d t w  2Mz 2d
d fy  0 
Let; k = d/tw 2M z d2 fy k
Eliminating ‘d’ 
A  k t2w 13
k tw fy M k 
 d   z 

2 M z d2
  fy 
Eliminating ‘t w’  A
d fy k

Proportioning of Flange
Determination of Optimum Thickness of Web
• Flange design  Based on strength
For minimum gross area, differentiating • Width of flange plate to Depth Ratio (b/d) may be taken as
2M z • For Non-composite Plate girder, : (b/d) = 0.3
A  k t w2
k wt yf • For Composite Plate girder, : (b/d) = 0.2
• Width of Tension flange may be increased by 30%
d A d  2 M z  d

d t w d twk t wf  ydt
 kt w2   • However, IS 800 Code recommends equal widths
• Width to thickness ratio, (b/tf) ) depends on buckling type and
w
may be selected as
 2Mz • For the preliminary dimensions, for plastic, compact, semi-
 0 2k t w compact sections,
k f yt 2w
• (b/tf) = 24 for Fe 410 steel
 M z 
13

 tw    • Generally, for the preliminary dimensions,

fk2
 y  • Thickness of flanges taken between 80 mm – 100 mm
• Widthof flange is generally taken as 1000 mm
• Self weight of girder may be assumed as (Total Load/300)

5
Flexural Strength: if d tw  67wand
• In general, flexural strength in the plate girder is developed by
• Tension Flange – limited by yielding, Flangesare plastic, compact or semi compact
• Compression flange – limited by local buckling and lateral
• Web shear buckling
torsional buckling
• reduction in contribution of web in developing the flexural
• web – if proper aspect ratio for the web is selected to avoid
vertical buckling resistance
• vertical stiffeners (provided to avoid vertical buckling of web) • Mostly, Moment is resisted
by Tension and
if d t w  67 w compression Flanges only
• No web local buckling in web • Stress in the flanges is
• Web contributes in developing assumed uniform
flexural resistance • At yielding of flanges,
• Moment capacity of plate stress in flange = fy/0
girder is same as for laterally • In design it is assumed,
restrained beams whole moment is resisted
by flange only.

If depth of the girder is, ‘d’, Moment of Resistance, SHEAR STRENGTH OF WEB
if d tw  67w
f
M z A f y d d  d  • Web will resist shear Stress as well as Flexural Stress
 m0 1
• Maximum shear force occurs
• Near supports, and
M z mo • Under concentrated load
 A f
f yd • Due to High shear force
• More diagonal compression
• Now the flange with area Af may be selected • Web buckling (due to high shear)
Shear Buckling of web depends on:
• Thickness of Web may be calculated as tw  (d/67) for plastic • (d/tw) Ratio and
and semi-compact • Spacing of intermediate stiffeners, if provided
Shear capacity of web comprises
• Method is simple but un-economical • shear strength before onset of buckling
• applicable only to laterally fully restrained girders • Called Pre-buckling Shear strength
• Shear strength after buckling
• in this chapter, girders are assumed laterally restrained
• Known as post-buckling shear strength

Behavior of Web when compressive shear stress > elastic stress

• Web is to be designed in such a way that • If shear stress > elastic stress,
• If compressive shear stress < elastic stress • Web is considered buckled and assumed to have NO shear
• No buckling  Behavior remains Elastic strength
• If Compressive shear stress = elastic stress • Girder acts as Pratt truss and shear is resisted by stiffeners
• Buckling about to Initiate and top & bottom flanges
• Shear strength is calculated using ‘Simple Post critical • Flange and Intermediate transverse Stiffeners act as
Method’ compression member
• If compressive shear stress > elastic stress • Because of Tension Field, web buckles along one diagonal
• Complete Buckling of Web but resists Tension along other diagonal
• Tension Field is Activated, if stiffeners are provided
adequately
• Strength in the Post-buckling regime utilizing the Tension
field action is calculated as sum of
(i) Pre-buckling shear strength, and
(ii) Post-buckling Shear Strength

6
Shear Strength of web in Pre-buckling Regime Using Simple Determination of Elastic Critical Shear Stress (cr,e)
Post Critical Method: • Strength is governed by elastic behavior of web
• Asimple method of calculating shear strength of web i.e. stress < yield stress
• Pre-buckling strength = Resistance of web to keep web flat
• Assumes that NO shear is resisted by flanges
i.e. Elastic Critical Shear stress
• May be used for all I girders i.e. I-sections with or without • Near the support: Diagonal compression causes buckling
intermediate transvers stiffeners (provided end stiffeners are between webs
available) • Elastic Critical Stress, cr, e of web with stiffeners depends on
• In the Simple Post critical Method, the Design shear strength of • Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s ratio of web material
web depends on • (d/tw) ratio of web (where d is clear depth of web)
• Elastic Critical shear Stress, cr,e • (c/d) ratio where c is distance between stiffeners
• Support conditions, generally not clear so assumed simply
• A non-dimensional web-slenderness ratio, w for shear
buckling, defined as supported

f  2E
 cr,e
k
12 1  
3 (for simplysupportedcondition)
w d t w 2
yw
v 2
cr,e

5.35 WEB STIFFENED OR STIFFENED ?

kv 4.0  for c d 1.0 ;
c d 2 As per the Code, a web is considered as ‘Unstiffened’ or
‘Stiffened’ using the following criterion and according
4.0
kv5.35 for c d 1.0 shear strength is calculated
c d 2
As evident, Elastic Critical Shear strength may be increased by: If d tw   67  Unstiffened web
• By decreasing spacing between Transverse stiffeners
• c decreases and, therefore, (c/d) decreases
• Using Longitudinal stiffeners d tw  67 kv 5.35  Stiffened web
• d decreases, and therefore, (d/tw) decreases
Special Cases where,  250 f y and
• If transverse stiffeners are provided at supports only then
• c >> d  kv = 5.35 k v  shear buckling coefficient,
• If Intermediate Transverse stiffeners are provided and (d/tw) is • Moreover, note that If No intermediate transverse stiffeners
very low or tw is very High are provided or if stiffeners are provided but they are at large
• Shear stress in web due to applied loads becomes < cr,,e spacing:
• yielding of flanges occurs before bucklingof web
Shear strength = Buckling strength of web)
• shear strength of web is calculated as b =V/dtw

Design Shear Strength of Web in Post-critical Method Tension Field Method

• Nominal shear strength of section (Vn) in the simple post critical • Tension Field is activated in post critical regime when webs are
method is calculated as buckled
Vn = Shear force corresponding to web buckling, Vcr = Av b • Because of buckling, webs becomes ineffective in resisting the
Where, Av = Shear area, and compressive principal stress and these forces are resisted by
b = shear stress corresponding to web buckling stiffeners and top and bottom flanges
• Consequently plastic hinges are formed in top and bottom
b depends on slenderness ratio of web (w) defined as
f
flanges

Plastic Hinge
3
w
yw

cr,e
f yw
 bfor   0.8,
w  b
3

bfor w1.2; b

f yw 3 
 f 3
yw
2w  f 3  
2 cr,e


  yw cr,e

For 0.8 < w < 1.2, b is calculated using the following expression
b for 0.8 w  1.2; b  1 0.8w 0.8 f y  3 

7
Tension Field Method
• After the formation of plastic hinges, Tensile Forces only are
resisted by web (developed perpendicular to buckling direction)
• The Tensile stress zone (a band along diagonal) is called
Tensile Membrane Field
• Girder acts as Pratt truss (Top Flanges as top compression
member, bottom flange as bottom compression member,
stiffeners as vertical member and Tension field as Inclined
members of truss)

Four Plastic Hinges

are formed in top and
bottom flanges due to
Tension Field

Shear Strength of Web in post-buckling Regime: f v  Shear strength of panel utilizing the Tension field
• In the Tension field Method, shear strength of girder is
governed by strength of webs (prior to buckling), flanges and Where,  fyw 
2 3 b2 2  0.5

stiffeners rather than strength of web only as in case of Simple 1.5bSin2

post critical method. Inclination of tensionfield
• May be used only for webs with intermediate transverse
stiffeners (1(c/d)  3) in addition to support stiffeners  tan1 d c tan1 d c(as per errata2012)
• This method may be used when the panels adjacent to panel  1.5 
wef  the width of Tension field
under consideration Provide Anchorage for tension field
• Shear strength in post-buckling regime  d cos c sc  st sin
= Pre-buckling strength, Vcr,e + Post-buckling Strength Vtf sc = anchorage lengths of tension field
Pre-buckling strength, Vcr,e = Avb Where,
b = buckling strength or shear along compression flanges
stress corresponding to web
Post-buckling Strength (due to Tension Field), buckling (as determined st = anchorage lengths of tension field
earlier)
Vtf = 0.9 Wtf tw fv Sin Vp = Plastic shear resistance along tension flanges

0.5
2M
under pure shear)

Total (nominal) Shear strength in post-buckling regime

sc ,t s are obtained as
s fr  c
Vn = Vcr,e + Vtf = (Avb + 0.9 Wtf tw fv Sin)  Vp f w t 
Sin  yw

0.5
2  M fr 
End Panel Either to be designed
using Simple post yield method or
s   c
Sin f t yw w 
need to provide End post
Where,
Mfr = Reduced plastic moment capacity of the respective flange
plate (disregarding any edge stiffener) after accounting for
the axial force Nf in the flange, due to overall bending and
any external axial force in the cross-section
2
 
1 
Nf
M fr  0.25bf f tyf2 f  
 b ft f yf  m 0 
 f

M
where, N f
Flange spacing, h f

bf = width of the relevant flange,

tf = thickness of the relevant flange,
fyf = yield stress of the flange

8
DESIGN OF END POST / END PANEL TO

; End Panel may be designed

using Simple post yield
• In case of Intermediate panels method or using Tension Field
(by providing End post)
• Vertical component of Tension Field action is resisted by
Adjacent intermediate vertical stiffeners
;
• Horizontal component of Tension Field is balanced by adjacent
web Panels.
• Consequently, Intermediate panels are considered as
anchored panels
• In case of Panel Next to End panel
• The forces developed by Tension Field are to be resisted by
end panel.

• Two approaches of Designing the End Panel:

In the Figure, Panel Next to End Panel is denoted as Panel A and

End Panel is denoted as Panel B
Case I :
• Panel Next to End Panel (Panel A) is designed using Tension Field Case II:
but End Panel (Panel B) using Simple Post Critical Method • Both the Panels i.e. End Panel (Panel B) and Panel Next to
• End Panel (Panel B) is considered strong enough to resist forces due to End Panel (Panel A) are designed using Tension Field
Tension field and NO End post is provided. method
• In this case Bearing stiffener is designed for the compressive force • End Panel (Panel B) is assumed weak and considered
only due to bearing plus compressive force due to Moment Mtf incapable in resisting anchorage forces due to Tension field
• Note that NO moment is considered in the stiffener since Tension Field is
and need to provide end Post.
not used for Panel B in this case
• It becomes necessity to provide end post to resist these
anchorage forces.
Only Bearing Stiffener
(NO End Post) • The Anchorage forces to be resisted by end post are (i)
Moment, and (ii) Shear Force

Anchorage Longitudinal Force Developed due to Tension Field Anchorage Moment and Shear Force Developed due to Tension Field
Action (to be resisted by End Panel or by End-post) Action (to be resisted by End post/End Panel)
Due to Tension Field Action, anchorage longitudinal force
• The End Panel / End Post is assumed to spanning between top
developed in end panel (Hq) is determined as
0.5 and bottom flanges and subjected to distributed along Tension
 V  cr 
H q  1.25Vp 1 Tension Field Direction is inclined but approximately Field direction but assumed as Horizontal distributed force Hq.
 V  assumed along horizontal direction)
 p • The End post/End Panel is checked for resisting Moment and
If actual applied shear force, V < Vtf (basic shear strength for the shear force developed due to Hq (because of Tension Field)
panel using tension field action)
V Vcr • The Moment developed in the End-panel/ End-post, Mtf
Reduce the Hq by a factor ;
V V (produced due to Tension Field action) is calculated as
tf cr H dq
 V V   V 
0.5 M tf
10
Hence, Hq   V Vcr  1.25Vp 1 Vcr 
 t f cr  p • And the Shear Force Rtf, developed in the End Panel/
  End Post due to Tension Field is calculated as
Where, Vp  Plastic shear Resistance under pure shear  d tw f y 3 Hq
Vcr = Critical shear strength for the panel using Simple Post- Rtf
critical Method (as determiner earlier) 2

9
Types of End Posts Design of End Post as Single Stiffener
• End Post may be of two types
• Single stiffener is provided which acts as Bearing
stiffener as well as End Post
• Two separate stiffeners are provided one as bearing
stiffener and other End stiffener (called double stiffener
case) Single Stiffener (Bearing cum End Post))
• Bearing stiffener-cum-end-post is designed for combination of
Single Stiffener
(Bearing cum End
compressive loads due to bearing and a moment equal to (2/3
Post)) Mtf)
• Note that moment is considered in stiffener since End Panel is
designed using Tension Field, consequently, incapable in
resisting moment and therefore this moment is to be resisted
by end post.
Double Stiffener
(separate Bearing
Additional Horizontalforcein theflangedue Moment M f
and End Post))
Mf
developeddue toTension Field , F tf
c

Design of End Post as Double Stiffener Stiffeners:

• Stiffeners and their functions are classified as:
• Intermediate Transverse and Longitudinal web stiffeners
• To improve buckling strength
• Load carrying stiffener
Double Stiffener (separate Bearing and End Post))
• To prevent local buckling of web due to concentrated load
• Bearing stiffener is designed for compressive loadsonly • Bearing stiffener
• End Post is Designed for • To prevent local crushing of web due to concentrated load
• a moment equal to Mtf and • Torsional Stiffener
• Horizontal Shear Force Rtf
• To provide torsional restraint to girders at supports
• Note that in this case moment is considered in end post
stiffener since End Panel is designed using Tension Field, • Diagonal stiffener
consequently, incapable in resisting moment and therefore • To strengthen the to a web under the combination of shear
this moment is to be resisted by end post. and bearing
Additional vertical Reaction at support (for design of stiffener) • Tension Stiffener
due to Momebt Mf developed due to Tension Field V  2M tf 3 c • To transmit tensile force applied to a web through a flange

Stiffeners: Intermediate Web Stiffener:

• In general, only two types of stiffeners are provided in plate May be of two types:
girders • Intermediate Transverse (vertical) Stiffeners,
• Intermediate Stiffeners, and • Intermediate Horizontal Stiffeners
• Bearing Stiffeners Intermediate Transverse (Vertical) Stiffeners:
Functions:
• These stiffeners are provided for its main function (as • Increases the shear buckling resistance of web,
mentioned) as well as other functions
• Resist the shear transferred by web
• Stiffeners may be in the form of
• Thus the Intermediate Transverse and Longitudinalweb
• Angles (in pair or alternatively on opposite faces i.e.
stiffeners are provided
staggered,
• To prevent web buckling due to shear,
• Flats

10
General Requirements of Stiffeners: • Stress in stiffener (Fqd) is determined from curve ‘c’ corresponding
Outstand of web stiffener: to slenderness ratio calculated as [Effective length (KL) / rq ]
• Unless the outer edge is continuously stiffened, Where,
Outstand from the face of the web not greater than 20 tq L = length of stiffener
(where tq = thickness of the stiffener) K= 0.7 if flange is restrained against rotation in the plane of
• If the outstand of web is between 14tq and 20 tq, stiffener (for intermediate stiffener)
K = 1.0 if flange is not restrained
 Outstand considered in design = 14 tq,
• If the outstand of web is < 14tq rq  I A
 Outstand considered in design = actual outstand
Buckling Strength of Stiffener Where,
I = MI of effective section
Buckling strength of Transverse Stiffener,
(hatched) about the horizontal
Fqd = fqd × Aq axis parallel to web
Where, Aq = effective area of stiffener
= stiffener outstand (14tq)  20 tq
If the length of the web available (near end) < 14tq take actual Note: For calculating the I, MI of the web will also included of
Stress, fqd: permissible stress in stiffener length not more than 20 tw on each side of stiffener.

Stiff Bearing Length (b1) Bearing Stiffener:

• If the reactions at supports and externally applied concentrated
• The length of any element b1, which cannot deform appreciably load are larger than local bearing capacity of web, need to
in bending. provide bearing stiffeners
• To determine b1, dispersion of load through a steel bearing • The Reaction/ Load is dispersed by 1 (V): 2.5(H) through
element is assumed at 450 through solid material (bearing Flange thickness only (since we need the load acting on web)
plates, flange plates, etc) (up to NA f beam).
Reaction/Load Carrying
capacity of web (.i.
bearing strength) b1
= (b1 + n2) tw fyw
b1 + n2(= 22.5t )f

b1 = width of load/support b1 n2 (= 2.5tf)

n2 = Dispersion of Support
reaction/ Load by 1 : 2.5
tf
through Flange only b1

Design of Load Carrying Stiffeners

Design of Intermediate Stiffeners
Aspect Ratio for welded stiffeners:
• Load carrying stiffeners are checked for their buckling and
Intermediate Stiffeners are provided such that bearing resistances.
Aspect ratio of Intermediate panel, (c/d) = 1.2 to 1.6 • For buckling check Fx  Fxd
End panel without Tension Field Action where Fx = External load or reaction and
Aspect ratio for end panel, (c/d) = 0.6 to 1.0
Minimum Stiffness (MI) of Stiffeners: Fxd = Buckling resistance.
For transverse web stiffeners when they are not subjected to • If load carrying stiffeners also act as intermediate transverse
external loads or moments, MI of stiffener should be such that web stiffeners, the bearing strength should be checked for the
I  0.75d t 3 if c d  2 combined loads
s w
• The bearing strength of the stiffener Fbsd is obtained as follows:
1.5d 3 t 3
Is w 2 if c d  2 Fbsd = 1.136 Aq fyd
c
where Aq = Area of the stiffener in contact with the flange
Note: Is is calculated about centerline of web if stiffeners on both side
Is is calculated about face of web if stiffeners on one side Note: Actual area is generally less than the full cross-sectional area
of the stiffener as the corners of the stiffener are often coped to
If there are external loads or moments in webs (due to eccentric
clear the web-to flange fillet weld
loading) at stiffener location: Provide Additional Stiffeners
fyd = yield stress of the stiffener

11
Horizontal Stiffeners • First Horizontal Stiffener
• Not provide any strength to web • One horizontal stiffener is placed on the web at a distance
• Avoid the thickness of web if thickness of web provided isless from the compression flange equal to 1/5 of the distance
from the compression flange angle, plate or tongue plate to
than minimum web thickness
the neutral axis when the thickness of the web is less than
• May be single or Double the specified limits
• Horizontal web stiffeners shall extend between vertical • The stiffener is designed such that Is is not less than
stiffeners, but need not be continuous over them; 4c(tw)3
• Second Horizontal Stiffener
• Horizontal stiffeners may be in pairs arranged on each sideof
• A second horizontal stiffener is placed at the neutral axis of
the web, or single located on one side of the web.
the girder when the thickness of the web is less than the
mini. Limit.
• Designed such that Is is not less than d2(tw)3 where d2 is
twice the clear distance from the compression flange
angles, plates or tongue plates to the neutral axis;

Torsional Stiffener: Example 1: Design of Unstiffened Plate Girder Carrying UDL

• Provided torsional restraint at the supports Span = 20 m ;
• Designed to satisfy the following: UDL Self weight = 80 + 4 = 84 kNm
• Should be safe in Bearing Ultimate BM = 1.584 202 / 8 = 63 00 kNm
• Second moment of area of the stiffener section about the
centre line of the web, Is, should satisfy following Shear Force at Ultimate = 1.584 20 / 2 = 1260 kNm
requirements Selection of Preliminary Dimensions of Web
When Intermediate stiffeners are not provide,
(d/tw) ratio for Serviceability criterion, (d/tw)  200
Also for avoiding buckling of flange, (d/tw)  345 (f)2
Taking, k = (d/tw) = 180
13
 Mk 
Where, Optimum Depth of web,d   
D = depth of the beam at support  f 
 y 
tcf = maximum thickness of the compression flange of the girder
13
KL = effective length of the laterally unsupported compression  6300106 180 
flange of girder   1655.4 m 1700mm
 250 
ry = radius of gyration about minor axis

 M 1 3 Selection of Preliminary Dimensions of Flange

OptimumThickness of web, t w   Assuming whole moment is resisted by flanges, elastic section
 f k 2
 y  modulus may be determined as

 630010 6 

13

2
  9.2 mm 
M y  f y m0 Z e
 250180 
Also, t w may be determined using(d / t w ) ratio as
 Z e  6300 106 250/1.1 27.72106 mm3
t w  d k  1700 /180  9.44mm 10mm If flange width is bf , thickness of flangeis tf
• Thickness calculated above is based on web with Stiffener and webdepth isd,then
• For unstiffened girder more thickness isrequired.
• Just to illustrate this fact, here the same thickness isadopted
  b t   d 2  t 2  2bt d 4
I  2 b ft 3f f f f
2
ff
2

in the first trial.

• Thus even for the web with NO Intermediate diaphragms, the
Z e b t d 2 
ff
2
d 2 Z e b tf fd
preliminary dimensions of web may be assumed as 1700 10
mm

12
As per the Table 2 of IS Code, maximum value of (b/tf) are Check for Flexural Strength of Section
For Class 2 (Compact) welded section (b/tf) = 9.4 and Zp = 2 bf tf ((D/2- tf/2) = 2425 40 (1780-40)/2 = 29.58106 mm3
Mu= (fy/m0) Zp
For welded Class 3 (semi-compact section) (b/tf) = 9.4
For Plastic flanges  = 1
Thus for section to be Compact/semi-compact, (b/tf) must be
between 9.4  and 13.6 , Taking (b/tf) = 13.6  = 13.6 Mu = 1 (250/1.1)  29.58  106 mm3
Ze = tf bf d = 27.72  103 = 6723 106 Nm (> 6300 kN m OK)
tf  13.6 tf  1700 = 27.72  103 Check for Shear Capacity of Section
tf = 34.62 mm For the web (d/tw) = 1700/10 = 170
Taking, tf = 40 mm (< 200  and also < 345 ( f)2 OK)
For (d/tw) < 200  and (d/tw) < 345 ( f)2 , elastic critical stress
For width of Flange: Ze = tf bf d  40bf 1700 = 27.72  106 
k v 2 E
 cr,
e
 
bf = 407 mm say 425mm
Checks for Flange Dimensions 12 1  2 d t 2
w
For unstiffened girder, kv = 5.35
Outstand of flange, b = (bf- tw)/2 = (425 – 10)/2 = 207.5 mm
5.352 110 5
 cr, e   33.46N / mm 2
 
(b/tf) = 207.5/40 = 5.187 (< 8.4 OK) ( Flanges are Plastic)
12 1  0.32 170 2

f yw 250 Check for Shear Strength with Revised Thickness (10 mm to

 w   2.07 16 mm)
3 cr,e 333.46
f 
For the web, (d/tw) = 1700/16 = 106.3
3 (< 200  and also < 345 ( f)2 OK
for w 2.07 (1.2), b
yw
2w For (d/tw) < 200  and (d/tw) < 345 ( f)2 , elastic critical stress

250 3 33.69 N / mm  cr,e


kv 2 E

5.352 110 5
85.67 N / mm 2

 
12 1   2d t w 12 1  0.32 106.32
2
2
2
2.07
Shear strength of based on web buckling, f yw 250
Vcr = d tw b = 1700 10  33.69  w   1.3  1.2
= 573 kN < required 1260 kN 3 cr,e 3 85.67
Web thickness to be increased.
Increasing the web thickness from 10 mm to 16mm. for w 1.3 (1.2), b
f
yw 3    2503 85.4N / mm 2
2w b
1.32
Shear strength of based on web buckling,
Vcr = d tw b = 1700 16 85.4
= 2323 kN > required 1260 kN. (OK)

Check for Buckling Strength of Web (without stiffener)

For the buckling, the 450 dispersion of load will be considered up End Stiffener
b1 n1 (=890 mm)
neutral axis (NA) of the plate girder.
Here overall height of girder = 1780 mm,
hence, distance of NA from bearing level = 890 mm
For the 450 dispersion, n1 = 890 mm. tf
b 1= 250
Since, web is rigidly connected to flanges, effective length of web
Bearing capacity of web, Fbwd = (b1+n1) tw (fcdw/m0)
= 0.7x height of web = 0.7 d
Fw = (0+250+890) x16 x (24)
Considering unit length of web, radius of gyration of web 1 = 438 kN << 1260 kN
= (I/A) = [{(1(tw)3/12}/(1tw) =tw/12 tw
Buckling strength of web is much lower than the reaction, so
Slenderness ratio of web, not safe in buckling.
w = 0.7d/(tw/12) = 2.43 d/tw = 2.431700/16 = 258
From Table, stress corresponding to w for buckling class ‘C’
= 24 Mpa (approx.)

13
 Design of End Stiffener:
Check for Bearing Strength of Web (without stiffener) Here, we need to design the stiffener to make the girder safe in
Let the width of support, b1 = 150 mm (measured along span of buckling since it is already safe in bearing.
beam) Design of Stiffener for Buckling
Bearing capacity of web, Fw = (n2 + b1+n2) tw (fyw/m0) Dimensions of Flat:
From Figure, n2 = 2.5x40 = 100 mm Let us select thickness of flat same as web, tq = 16 mm
Fw = (0+250+100) x 16 x (250/1.1) As per the code Maximum outstand for flat = 20 tq = 320 mm
= 1272 kN > 1260 kN Also, Max. effective outstand (if outstand > 14 tq) = 14 tq = 224 mm
Hence, web without end stiffener is safe in bearing. Stiffeners are generally not projected out flange of girder.
From bearing point of view stiffener is not required at end support. Since, the flange out stand = (425-16)/2 = 204.5 mm
Note: In case, the beam is safe Let us take stiffener outstand as 200 mm.
in buckling but not in bearing, Effective outstand = 200 mm (Not greater than 14tq as well 20tq OK)
Thus adopted outstand flat dimensions are 200 mm x 16 mm
the support width may be 16
increased to make the beam
End Stiffener End b1 n1 (=890 m m) 200
safe at support. Since in Stiffener 16
present case, it is failing in
n2 n2 (= 2.5tf)
bearing as well as in buckling, b1
it becomes necessary to
provide stiffener. tf
tf b1= 250
b1= 250 125 320

Effective Area of Flat: Example 2: Design of Stiffened Plate Girder Using Simple
Effective area of stiffener = 2 (200 16) + (125+320) 16 Post Critical Method
= 13520 mm2
Moment of inertia of stiffener Span = 20 m ; UDL Self weight = 80 + 4 = 84 kNm
Ultimate BM = 1.584 202 / 8 = 63 00 kNm
16  2003  200 16 
2
2   20016      95.97106 mm4 Shear Force at Ultimate = 1.584 20 / 2 = 1260 kNm
 12  2 2   Selection of Preliminary Dimensions of Web
(d/tw) ratio for Serviceability criterion, (d/tw)  200
I 95.97106
ry   84.25mm Also for avoiding buckling of flange, (d/tw)  345 (f)2
A 13520
Taking, k = (d/tw) = 180 13 13
KL 0.71700  Mk   
Slendernessratio,   14.2   630010 180 
6
Optimum Depthof web,d  
r 84.25  f 
At14.2, for f y  250MPaand forbucklingClass'C',  y   250 
 1655.4m 1700mm
design compressive stress, fcd  227 MPa 13 13
Buckling strengthof web fcd Ae 22713520  M   6300106 
OptimumThickness of web, t w       9.2 mm
 f yk 2  2
 3069 kN 1260kN OK    250180 

• For the stiffened girders, the thickness required isless kv2E 7.36 2 2 10 5
 cr,
e   66.29MPa
compared to unstiffened webs.
• Thickness of web may be assumed as 12 mm (16 mm was

12 1   d t
2
w 
2
 
12 1 0.32 1700 12 2
required for unstiffened girder). 250 250
• Hence, the preliminary dimensions of web may be assumed
 w  1.476
3 cr, e 366.28
as 1700 12
f yw
For w1.476 1.2 ,  b
250
Spacing of stiffeners  66.29MPa
Since the requirement of MI of stiffener depends on (c/d) ratio 3 2 w 3 1.476 2
and it is divided into two categories, (c/d) <2 and (c/d) 2, let us
select (c/d) = 1.4, Shear strenghcorresponding to buckling,
Hence, spacing of stiffeners = 1.4x1700 = 2380 mm  2400 mm Vcr  d .t w .b1700 12  66.291352kN 1260kN (OK )
Check for Shear Strength of Panel Near to Support (Critical)
We have (c/d) = 2400/1700 = 1.412 > 1.0, hence, Note: In the Simple Post Critical Method, end bearings are
4.0 4.0 designed in the similar way as in unstiffened girders. End
For(c / d ) 1.0, k v5.35  5.35 7.36
c d 2 1.4122 stiffeners are designed to avoid web buckling (if web fails in
buckling) and for bearing (if girder fails in bearing)

14
Example 3: Design of Stiffened Plate Girder with Tension Field Determination of Shear strength Using Tension Field Theory
Considering web thickness 10 mm for the case with Tension Field
M 6300 10 6
kv2E 7.362 2 105 N f   3621 kN
 cr,e
   48.53MPa Flange spacing, h f 20  1700  20
 
12 1  2 d t w 12
2
 
1 0.32 1700 102   Nf
2
M fr 0.25b t fff 1yf2     
w 
250

250
1.725 


 b f t f f yf   m0

3cr,e 348.53
   
2

Forw1.7251.2 ,  0.25425 40 2  250 1 

3621  10 3
   5.17 kNm
  40  250 1.1 
 425
f yw 250 
 b  48.54MPa
3 1.7252
As per code Inclination of tension field ,
3 2 w
 tan 1  d   tan 1  1700   35.3 0
Shearstrenghcorrespondingtobuckling,  
c  2400 
Vcr  d .t w .b170010 48.54825kN  1260kN 0.5
Since the applied shear force is more than the critical shear 2 M 2  5.17 10 6 
0.5
s c  st  s  
  
fr

Sin  f Sin 35.3  250 10 
bucklingstrength, tension field will be activated. ywt w 
Need to calculate shear strength including tension field. 157.4  c ( 2400 OK )

width of Tension field, wtf  d cos c sc  st sin Design of End Post
wtf 1700 cos35.3 2400157.4157.4sin35.32592.4 mm Anchorage Forces Resisted by End-Post (End-Panel/ End-Stiffener)

1.5b Sin2  1.5 48.54 sin 2 35.368.68MPa Longitudinal force (anchorage force),
Yield strengthof Tensionfield,f v f 3  
2
yw
2
b
2 0.5
V 
0.5
 825 
0.5
Hq  1.25Vp 1 cr  1.252454 1  1778.6kN
 
2 0.5
f v 250  3 48.54  68.68  68.68 176.57 MPa
2 2  V
 p   2454 
Nominalshear resistance of webincluding Tensionfield action, V Vcr  1260825
Vtf  Shear strength due to primary buckling,b ( Avb ) Reduction factor for H q 0.267
Vt f Vcr 2454  825
 shear strength due to tension field ( 0.9 wtf tw f v Sin)
Reduced [Link] onStiffner, H q  0.267 1778.6
 170010 48.54  0.9  2592.4 10 176.57 Sin 35.31
 825kN  2381kN  3206kN  V p  474.9kN
d tw fy
170010 250 Moment in the end panel due to anchorage forces,
Vp   2454kN
3 3 H q d 474.9 1.700
Hence,Vtf  2454kN  Re quired 1260kN OK
M tf   80.7 kNm
10 10

Design of End Panel as Single Stiffener Check For End Panel Web To Resist Moment Due to Tension Field

Moment of Inertia of web panel about vertical

tw c3
axis passing through Mid of the panel, I 
12
Moment Carrying capacity of Web panel :
For thesinglestiffener,stiffener is designed to resist Moment
(2 3)Mtf  (2 3) 221.6 147.7 kNm
fy 
My
 M fyI 3
 yf w tc 12 f y t
wc2

Additional Vertical Reaction dueto Anchorage Moment in End - post, I y  c/ 2 c 2 6
 Moment Resisted by stiffener  147.7 kNm  61.55kN 
250 1.1 10  2400 2  2181 kNm 80.7 kNm
c 2.4 m 6
TotalSupportreaction(includingReaction duetoTension Field)
Hence, End panel is safe in resisting the moment developed by
 1260 61.551321.6kN anchorage force due to Tension field.
H q 474.9
Resultant longitudinal shear, R tf    237.5kN
2 2

15
Design of End Panel as Single Stiffener

For thesinglestiffener, asshownin Figure,

stiffener is designed to resist Moment M tf ( 221.6kNm)
and resultant longitudinal shear Force calculated as,
Hq 474.9
Rtf   237.5kN
2 2

16