WEB DESIGN UNDER COMPRESSIVE EDGE LOADS.

Abstract

Webs of rolled and built-up beams and girders can be subjected to local in-plane compressive patch loads. Examples are wheel loads, loads from purlines and roller loads during construction. For practical and/or economic reasons, transverse stiffeners are to be minimized or avoided except at critical sections. It is, therefore, necessary to check the unstiffened web under the edge compressive loading to insure no localized failure will occur. The localized stresses due to edge loading can be combined with global stresses of bending and/or shear. The tests have been performed by several investigators to study the web behavior under compressive edge loads. The purpose of this report is to summarize the avialable analytical and experimental studies and develop recommendations for the design of unstiffened webs under compressive edge loads.