Vierendeel Bridge Grammene Belgium

Vierendeel girder and frame

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Arthur Vierendeel (18521940) born in

Leuven, Belgium was a university
professor and civil engineer.
The Vierendeel structure he developed
was named after him.
His work, Cours de stabilit des
constructions (1889) was an important
reference during more than half a
century. His first bridge was built 1902
in Avelgen, crossing the Scheldt river

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Berlin Pedestrian Bridge

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Berlin HBF:

Vierendeel structures

Vierendeel frame

Vierendeel elevator shaft

Prof Schierle

Vierendeel detail

Vierendeel girder and frame

Named after 19th century Belgian inventor, Vierendeel girders and frames are bending resistant
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2
3
4

1-bay girder
Gravity load
Lateral load
Articulated
Inflection points

Vierendeel structures

5
6
7
8

3-bay girder
Gravity load
Lateral load
Articulated
Inflection points

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2
3
4
5

Base girder
Global shear
Global moment
Bending
Chord forces

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7
8
9
10

Prof Schierle

Pin joints
Strong web
Strong chord
Shear
Chord shear

One-way girders
1 Plain girder
2 Prismatic girder
3 Prismatic girder

Space frames
4 2-way
5 3-way
6 3-D

Salk Institute, La Jolla

Architect: Louis Kahn
Engineer: Komendant and Dubin

Viernedeel girders of 65 span, provide adaptable

interstitial space for evolving research needs

Perspective section and photo, courtesy Salk Institute

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Yale University Library

Architect/Engineer: SOM

Vierendeel structures

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2
3

Vierendeel facade
Vierendeel elements
Cross section

The library features five-story Vierndeel frames

Four concrete corner columns support the

frames

Length direction span: 131 feet

Width direction span: 80 feet

Faades are assembled from prefab steel

crosses welded together at inflection points

The tapered crosses visualize inflection points

Prof Schierle

Commerzbank, Frankfurt
Architect: Norman Foster
Engineer: Ove Arup
Floors between sky gardens are
supported by eight-story high
Vierendeel frames which also
resist lateral load

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Commerzbank, Frankfurt
Architect: Norman Foster
Engineer: Ove Arup
Vierendeel elevation / plan

Vierendeel / floor girder

Vierendeel / floor girder

joint detail

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Hong Kong Shanghai Bank

Architect: Norman Foster
Engineer: Ove Arup
Gravity / lateral load support:

Hanger / belt truss

Vierendeel towers

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

10

Vierendeel steel girder

Assume:
10 tubing, allowable bending stress Fb = 0.6x46 ksi
Girder depth d = 6, span 10 e = 10x10
DL=
18 psf
LL =
12 psf
=
30 psf
Uniform load
w = 30 psf x 20 / 1000
Joint load
P = 0.6 x 10
Max shear
V = 9 P/2 = 9 x 6/2
CHORD BARS
Shear (2 chords)
Vc = V/2 = 27/2
Chord bending (k) Mc = Vc e/2 = 13.5x5
Chord bending (k) Mc = 67.5 k x12
Moment of Inertia
I = Mc c/Fb = 810 k x 5/27.6 ksi
2nd bay chord shear Vc = (VP)/2 = (27-6)/2
2nd chord bending Mc = Vc e/2 = 10.5 x 5
2nd chord bending Mc = 52.5 k x 12
WEB BAR (2nd web resists bending of 2 chords)
Web bar bending
Mw = Mc end bay + Mc 2nd bay
Mw = 810 + 630
Moment of Inertia
I = Mw c/Fb = 1440 k x 5/27.6 ksi
Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

Fb= 27.6 ksi

L = 100

w = 0.6 klf
P= 6 k
V = 27 k
Vc = 13.5 k
Mc = 67.5 k
Mc = 810 k
I = 147 in4
Vc = 10.5 k
Mc = 52.5 k
Mc = 630 k
Mw=1,440 k
I = 261 in4
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Compare Multiframe vs. schematic results

MF load

MF shear

MF bending

Schematic results

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6x10 = 60

Vierendeel with overhangs

MAL= (2x10/2)(5) = 50 k
MAR= (5x10/2)(5)-50 = 75 k
Bars @ B are symmetrical

Vierendeel structures

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(Multiframe MAL = 61.3

(Multiframe MAR = 73.63

Prof Schierle

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Vierendeel structures

Chord bars
Moment of Inertia required
Use ST10x10x5/16

I= 147 in4
I= 183>147

Web bars
Moment of Inertia required
Use ST10x10x1/2

I= 261 in4
I= 271>261

Prof Schierle

14

Sport Center, University of California Davis

Architect: Perkins & Will
Engineer: Leon Riesemberg
Given the residential neighborhood, a major objective was to
minimize the building height by several means:
The main level is 10 below grade
Landscaped berms reduce the visual faade height
Along the edge the roof is attached to bottom chords
to articulates the faade and reduce bulk
Assume
Bar cross sections 16x16 tubing, 3/16 to 5/8 thick
Frame depth d = 14 (max. allowed for transport)
Module size:
21 x 21 x 14 ft
Width/length:
252 x 315 ft
Fb = 27.6 ksi
Structural tubing Fb = 0.6 Fy = 0.6x46 ksi
DL = 22 psf
LL = 12 psf (60% of 20 psf for tributary area > 600 ft2)
= 34 psf
Note: two-way frame carries load inverse to deflection ratio:
r = L14/(L14+L24) = 3154/(3154+2524)
r = 0.71
Uniform load per bay
w = 0.71 x 34 psf x 21/1000
w = 0.5 klf
Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

15

Modules:
21x21x14

Vierendeel structures

Design end chords

Joint load
P = w x 21 = 0.5klf x 21
P = 10.5 k
Max. shear
V = 11 P /2 = 11 x 10.5 / 2
V = 58 k
Chord shear (2 chords)
Vc = V/2 = 58 k / 2
Vc = 29 k
Chord bending
Mc = Vc e/2 = 29x 21x12/2
Mc= 3654 k
Moment of Inertia required
I = Mc c /Fb = 3654 x 8/27.6 ksi I = 1059 in4
Check mid-span compression
Global moment
M = 3969 k
M = w L2/8 = 0.5 x 2522/8
Compression (d=1416=12.67)
C = M/d= 3969 k/ 12.67
C = 313 k

Prof Schierle

16

Chord bars
Moment of Inertia required
Use ST16x16x1/2
Check mid-span chord stress
Compression
Allowable compression

I= 1059 in4
I= 1200

C = 313 k
Pall = 728 k
313 <<728

Note:
End-bay bending governs

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

17

Commerzbank, Frankfurt
Design edge girder
Assume:
Tributary area
End bay width
Loads: 70 psf DL+ 30 psf LL
Allowable stress Fb =0.6 x36
Girder shear
V = 60x20x 100 psf/1000
Bending moment
M = V e/2 = 120x20/2
Required section modulus
S = M/Fb = 1200 k x 12/ 21.6 ksi
Use W40x192

60x20
e = 20
=100 psf
Fb = 21.6 ksi
V = 120 k
M = 1200 k
S = 667 in3
S = 706 in3

Note: check also lateral load

Variable bay widths equalize bending stress
Load at corners increases stability

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

18

Vierendeel steel girder

Assume:
10 tubing, allowable bending stress Fb = 0.6x46 ksi
Girder depth d = 6, span 10 e = 10x10
DL=
18 psf
LL =
12 psf
=
30 psf

Fb= 27.6 ksi

L = 100

Uniform load
w = 30 psf x 20 / 1000
w = 0.6 klf
Joint load
P = 0.6 x 10
P= 6 k
Max shear
V = 9 P/2 = 9 x 6/2
V = 27 k
CHORD BARS
Vc = 13.5 k
Shear (2 chords)
Vc = V/2 = 27/2
Chord bending
Mc = Vc e/2 = 13.5 x (10x12)/ 2 Mc = 810 k
Moment of Inertia
I = Mc c/Fb = 810 k x 5/27.6 ksi
I = 147 in4
2nd bay chord shear Vc = (VP)/2 = (27-6)/2
Vc = 10.5 k
2nd chord bending Mc = Vc e/2 = 10.5 x 120/2
Mc = 630 k
WEB BAR (2nd web resists bending of 2 chords)
Web bar bending
Mw = Mc end bay + Mc 2nd bay
Mw = 810 + 630
Mw=1,440 k
Moment of Inertia
I = Mw c/Fb = 1440 k x 5/27.6 ksi
I = 261 in4
Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

19

Scheepsdale Revolving Bridge Bruges, Belgium 1933

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

20

Railroad Bridge
Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

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Dallvazza Bridge Swiss, 1925

Gellik Railroad Bridge Belgium

Anderlecht Railroad Bridge Belgium

Osera de Ebro Bridge, Zaragoza, Spain, 2002

Pedestrian Bridge Irvine, CA

by Excel Bridge Manufacturing
Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

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Vierendeel girder and frame endure

Vierendeel structures

Prof Schierle

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