VERTICALLY CURVED GIRDER FLANGES.

Abstract

Vertically curved flange plates in I-section and box-section girders have been analyzed. Separate elastic and plastic analyses have been performed. These analyses have resulted in the development of simple equations and charts for determining the reduction in flange capacity caused by the curvature. It has been found that the curvature can cause very large transverse flexural stresses and very large reduction in the load at which yielding of the flange begins, even in flanges with commonly used dimensions and radii of curvature. It was also found, however, that through plastic behavior, the flange can resist considerable additional load after the start of yielding. The reduction in flange capacity caused by vertical curvature should be taken into account in design.