Assignment 1, K7015B

Continuous steel girder

Rémi Dhédin
03 October 2020
Assignment 1, K7015B Continuous steel girder

Problem
The assignment aim is to design a steel girder as follow:

Figure 1 : Girder to design (source: subject)

Design will be made following EN1993 recommendations linked to the Swedish national annex (EKS
10).
The different step in the design are following:
• Design internal load calculations
• Design for bedding
• Lateral torsion buckling verifications
• Design for shear
• Interaction bending/shear
• End post design

I. Design internal loads calculations

In this part, internal shear and bending design moment must be calculate at support points and
between these points. Because of the symmetrical problem, loads at the support 3 (see Figure 1) are
considered equal as the support 1. Equality is also considered for span 1-2 and 1-3. So internal load must
be calculated at support 1, 2 and span 1-2.
• Support 1:
At support 1, the elastic distribution gives:
𝑀𝐸𝑑,1 = 0 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑉𝐸𝑑,1 = 0,375. 𝑞𝑑 . 𝑙 = 937,5 𝑘𝑁
• Support 2:
At support 2, the elastic distribution gives:
𝑀Ed,2 = −0,125. 𝑞d . 𝑙 2 = −7812,5 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑉Ed,2 = 0,625. 𝑞d . 𝑙 = 1562,5 𝑘𝑁
• Span 1-2:
The plastic hinge theory is used. In this theory, we can assume that the span 1-2 is equivalent to
Figure 2.

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Assignment 1, K7015B Continuous steel girder

Figure 2 : Equivalent model in plastic hinge theory for span 1-2 (drawing: Ove Lagerqvist)

𝑞d .𝑙2
Thus, the plastic moment for span 1-2 is: 𝑀𝑝𝑙 = = 5341,9 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
11,7

And design loads are:

𝑀Ed,12 = 𝑀𝑝𝑙 = 5341,9 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑉Ed,12 = 0 𝑘𝑁

II. Design for bending (support 2 and span 1-2)

Thanks to part I, we know that the girder have to support the bending moment and so the design
bending moment must be at least 7812,5 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 (𝑀𝐸𝑑,2 ). In this case, the span (1-2) will also support the
bending load. According to §6.2.5 EN 1993-1-1, the requirement is:
𝑀𝐸𝑑,𝑖
≤1
𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑
𝑓𝑦 .𝑤
With 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 𝛾𝑀0

Where 𝑤 is 𝑤𝑝𝑙 (class 1 and 2), 𝑤𝑒𝑙,𝑚𝑖𝑛 (class 3) or 𝑤𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑚𝑖𝑛 (class 4).

For this part, 𝑤 is calculate with Z4 software developed by the French CTICM
(https://www.cticm.com/logiciel/z4/). Different sections were investigated to find a solution up and close
to 7812,5 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚.
A cross-section following this recommendation was found as:
ℎ = 2000 𝑚𝑚, 𝑡𝑓 = 25 𝑚𝑚, 𝑡𝑤 = 10 𝑚𝑚 , 𝑏1 = 𝑏2 = 400 𝑚𝑚

That section is class 4 (web class 4 and flange class 3) and 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 8018 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Because of symmetrical cross-section, 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 is the same for positive and negative moment.

III. Lateral torsion buckling verifications (span 1-2)

In this part, it will be checked if the girder’s the design resistance for bending found in part II, must
be reduce because of lateral torsion buckling. This reduction is represented by the 𝜒𝐿𝑇 factor, calculated
following §6.3.2 EN 1993-1-1. The coefficient 𝑀𝑐𝑟 is calculated thanks to LTBeam Software developed
by CTICM (https://www.cticm.com/logiciel/ltbeam/).

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Assignment 1, K7015B Continuous steel girder

Calcul is made for the span 1-2 (with a continuous moment of 𝑀 = −7812,5 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 on the right end).
That lead to a critical moment 𝑀𝑐𝑟 = 1163 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
Because of a I-welded section with ℎ/𝑏 = 2000/400 = 5 > 2 (buckling curve d), the coefficient 𝛼 =
0,76 . After finding 𝜆 and 𝛷, it’s finding:
𝜒 = 0,11 ⇒ 𝑀𝑏,𝑟𝑑 = 0,11 × 8018 = 896 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚

So the girder is really influented by lateral torsion buckling (reduction of 91%). In order to solve that,
it will be considered in this assignment that transversal panel will be add on the top of girders to avoid
lateral torsion buckling. And so in this case, there is no reduction for Lateral Torsion Buckling.

IV. Design for shear (support 1 and 2)

This part will be according to in §6.2.6 EN 1993-1-1. Because of the cross-section class 4, the
elastic design resistance shear will be checked.
§6.2.6 (6) EN 1993-1-1 gives the test if shear buckling is important:
ℎ𝑤 𝜂 1950 1,2
∙ = ∙ = 288 > 72
𝑡𝑤 𝜀 10 0,81
So, it is important to add end posts, as described in section 5 in EN 1993-1-5.

• Contribution from the web (see §5.3 EN 1993-1-5)

First, non-rigid end posts are added.
Formula (5.5) in EN 1993-1-5 gives: 𝜆̅𝑤 = 2,79.
Then, because of 𝜆̅𝑤 > 1,08 and non-rigid end post, Table 5.1 in EN 1993-1-5 gives: 𝜒𝑤 = 0,298.
And finally: 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,1 = 992 𝑘𝑁.
But that is still not enough for support 2 (𝑉𝐸𝑑,2 = 1562,5 𝑘𝑁). So, adding rigid end post at support 2
(see part V), we find 𝜒𝑤 = 0,298 ⇒ 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,2 = 1308,8 𝑘𝑁

• Contribution from the flange (see §5.4 EN 1993-1-5)

For support 1, it is already known that 𝑉𝑏,𝑟𝑑,1 > 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,1 , and this second value is enough to support
shear forces at support 1. So, 𝑉𝑏𝑓,𝑟𝑑,1 will be neglected. So 𝑉𝑏,𝑟𝑑,1 = 992 𝑘𝑁.

𝑏𝑓 𝑡𝑓2 𝑓𝑦𝑓 2
𝑀 400.252 .355.10−6 7812,5 2
And 𝑉𝑏𝑓,𝑟𝑑,2 = 𝑐
(1 − (𝑀 𝐸𝑑 ) ) = 0,26
(1 − ( 8018
) ) = 17,2 𝑘𝑁
𝑏,𝑟𝑑

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Assignment 1, K7015B Continuous steel girder

So, 𝑉𝑏𝑓,𝑟𝑑,2 = 1326 𝑘𝑁 < 𝑉𝐸𝑑,2 . The cross section needs to be design anew.

• With 𝑡𝑤 = 14 𝑚𝑚 :
𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 9142,0 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 and 𝜒𝑤 = 0,509 ⇒ 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,2 = 2374 𝑘𝑁
• With 𝑡𝑤 = 13 𝑚𝑚 :
𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 8832,4 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 and 𝜒𝑤 = 0,482 ⇒ 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,2 = 2086 𝑘𝑁
• With 𝑡𝑤 = 12 𝑚𝑚 :
𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 8541,3 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 and 𝜒𝑤 = 0,453 ⇒ 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,2 = 1867 𝑘𝑁
So 𝑡𝑤 = 12 𝑚𝑚 seems to be good.

V. Interaction bending/shear (support 2)

There is both shear and bending moment only at support 2. Furthermore, as described in §6.2.8 (2)
EN 1993-1-1: “Where the shear force is less than half the plastic shear resistance its effect on the moment
resistance may be neglected except where shear buckling reduces the section resistance, see EN 1993-1-
5”. Here, it is needed to take into considerations interaction bending/shear.
2
2 × 1562,5
𝜌=( − 1) = 0,45
1867
So, the real 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 should be reduce of 55%: 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 4673 𝑘𝑁 < 𝑉𝐸𝑑,2
That lead to design the cross section anew.
• Increasing 𝑡𝑤 = 14 𝑚𝑚 :
𝜌 = 0,07 ⇒ 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 8492 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 > 𝑀𝐸𝑑,2

• Increasing 𝑡𝑤 = 13 𝑚𝑚 :
𝜌 = 0,20 ⇒ 𝑀𝑐,𝑟𝑑 = 7074 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚 < 𝑀𝐸𝑑,2
So finally, 𝑡𝑤 = 14 𝑚𝑚.

VI. End post design (support 1 and 2)

With 𝑡𝑤 = 14 𝑚𝑚, 𝑉𝑏𝑤,𝑟𝑑,2 = 1944 𝑘𝑁 > 𝑉Ed,2, so using non-rigid end-post are enough.
As it is said in the subject of this assignment, end post are designed following: “the strong axis
buckling resistance of the transverse stiffener loaded by an axial force equal to the reaction force of the
girder at the support under consideration”. In other words, stiffeners will be considerate as columns
loaded by 𝑉𝐸𝑑 .

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Assignment 1, K7015B Continuous steel girder

Because of possible buckling around strong axis (𝑥⃗) due to compression, the reduction factor 𝜒 is given
by §6.3.2 EN 1993-1-1. The girder depth is used as buckling length (𝐿𝑐𝑟 = 2000 𝑚𝑚). As described in
§9.4 (2) EN 1993-1-5, the curve c must be used (𝛼 = 0,49). The stiffeners cross-sections highs are: ℎ𝑠 =
𝑏𝑤 = 400 𝑚𝑚 for support 1 and support 2, so:
ℎ𝑠 𝐿 3000
𝑖= = 115,5 𝑚𝑚 ⇒ 𝜆̅ = 𝑖.93,9𝜀
𝑐𝑟
= 115,5×93,9×0,81 = 0,34 ⇒ 𝛷 = 0,59 ⇒ 𝜒 = 0,93.
√12

𝑁 𝜒.𝐴.𝑓𝑦
Then, the stiffeners should verify 𝑁 𝐸𝑑 ≤ 1 with 𝑁𝑏,𝑅𝑑 = 𝛾𝑀1
= 𝜒. ℎ𝑠 . 𝑡𝑠 . 𝑓𝑦 (Equation (6.46) and (6.47)
𝑏,𝑅𝑑

in EN 1993-1-1).
Finally:
𝑁𝐸𝑑
𝑡𝑠 ≥
𝜒. ℎ𝑠 . 𝑓𝑦
With 𝑁𝐸𝑑 = 𝑉𝐸𝑑,𝑖 for support 𝑖;
For support 1: 𝑡𝑠 ≥ 7,1 𝑚𝑚 ⇒ 𝑡𝑠 = 8 𝑚𝑚
For support 2: 𝑡𝑠 ≥ 11,8 𝑚𝑚 ⇒ 𝑡𝑠 = 12 𝑚𝑚

Conclusion
So, to support the load described in Figure 1, the girder must have these dimensions:
ℎ = 2000 𝑚𝑚, 𝑡𝑓 = 25 𝑚𝑚, 𝑡𝑤 = 14 𝑚𝑚 , 𝑏1 = 𝑏2 = 400 𝑚𝑚, a=5mm
The girder must be braced for lateral torsion buckling adding a panel at the top or adding smaller lateral
girders between a set of smaller girders, depending on the real design situation.
Non-rigid end post of 8 mm thick must be added near support 1 and 3 and 12 mm near support 2 and as
wide as the girder (193 mm on both side).
That may be resume in this figure:

Figure 3 : Final dimensions for the girder (Wrong proportions)

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