FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF GIRDERS WITH LARGE WEB OPENINGS.

Abstract

This paper has addressed the problem of determining an accurate but economic finite element model which will permit determination of the stress concentration in the vicinity of a reinforced hole present in the multi-celled girder web. It was pointed out that simulation of the entire structure in sufficient detail to adequately predict the stress concentration is impractical. Instead, cruder models of the entire structure are used after which the resulting shear carried by each bulkhead can be imposed on a smaller model with much greater detail. However, several alternatives exist regarding the type of finite element model to use. Three different finite element models were compared with regard to economy and accuracy.