Example: Plate Girder Design

A simply supported plate girder has a span of 12 meter and carries two concentrated load on
top flange at the third points consisting of 450kN permanent load and 300kN variable load.
In addition, it carries uniformly distributed permanent load (UDL) 20kN/m which includes
allowance for self-weight and variable load of 10kN/m. The compression flange is fully
restrained laterally. The girder is supported on heavy stiffened bracket at each end. Girder
was constructed using steel having grade of S355.
1. Design Load
Concentrated Load, P

= 1.35 (450) + 1.5 (300)

= 909 kN

Uniformly Distributed Load, w

= 1.35(20) + 1.5(10)
= 43kN/m
Mmax = 4,410kNm , Vmax = 1,167kN

Intermediate Stiffeners

End Post

Load Bearing Stiffeners

bf

4m

tf
tw

hw

2. Shear Resistance of Plate Girder

a
bf
tf
hw
tw

=
=
=
=
=

1000 mm
500 mm
20 mm
2000 mm
10 mm

For Stiffened Web

235
fy

= 0.81
a 1000
=
hw 2000
a
=0.5<1
hw

k =4+5.34

hw
a

( )

2000
k =4+5.34
1000

k =25.36

hw 2000
=
t
10
hw
=200
t

31
31
k=
( 0.81 ) 25.36
1.2
105.38

Since

hw 31
shear resistance for web
> k .: for
t

V b , Rd=V bw, Rd +V bf ,Rd

f yw hw t

3 M 1

Determine Contribution From Web

V bw ,Rd =

E=

w f yw h w t
3 M 1

2 E t 2
12 ( 1v 2) b 2
2

( )
( )

t
E=190,000 2
b
E=190,000

10 2
2040 2
2

E=4.6 N /mm

cr =k E
cr =25.36 x 4.6
cr =116.7 N /mm2

w =0.76 f yw
cr
w =0.76
w =1.32

355
116.7

 w 1.08
, for rigid end post:

Refer to Table 5.1,

w=

1.37
( 0.7+ w )

w=

1.37
( 0.7+1.32 )

w =0.67

.: Contribution from web;

V bw ,Rd =

V bw ,Rd =

w f yw h w t

3 M 1
0.67(355)(2000)(10)
3 (1.0)

V bw ,Rd =2746.5 kN

Determine Contribution From Flange

b f t 2f f yf
M Ed
V bf , Rd=
1
c M1
M f , Rd

( ( ))

c=a 0.25+

1.6 b f t f f yf
t h w f yw

c=1000 0.25+

1.6 ( 500 ) ( 202 ) ( 355 )

( 10 ) ( 2000 ) (355 )

c=16,250

M f , Rd =

M f ,k
Mo

M f , Rd =

f yf b f t f hw
MO

M f , Rd =

( 355 ) ( 500 ) ( 20 )( 2000 )

1.0

M f , Rd =7,100 kNm

.: Contribution from flange;

b f t 2f f yf
M Ed
V bf , Rd=
1
c M1
M f , Rd

( ( ))

( 500 ) ( 202 ) (355)

4410
V bf , Rd=
1
( 16,250 ) (1.0)
7,100

( ( ))

V bf , Rd=2665.2kN

V b , Rd=V bw, Rd +V bf ,Rd

f yw hw t

3 M 1

V b , Rd=2746.5+ 2665.2

( 1.2 ) ( 355 ) ( 2000 ) (10)

3(1.0)

V b , Rd=5411.7 kN 4919 kN

.: V b , Rd=4,919 kN

Verification

3 =

V Ed
V b , Rd

3 =

1,167
4,919

3=0.24<1
.: Web Plate are adequate to cater for shear and prevent from shear buckling

3. Resistance to Transverse Force of Plate Girder

m 1=

f yf bf
f yw t w

m2=0.02

m 1=

(355 ) (500)
(355 ) (10)

2000
m2=0.02
20

m1=50

l y =s s+2 t f ( 1+ m1+m2 )

hw
tf

( )
(

m2=200

l y =250+2(20) ( 1+ 50+200 )
l y =922.5 mm

Consider for type (a)

2

h
k F =6+2 w
a

( )

k F =6+2

2000
1000

k F =14

Fcr =0.9 k F E

t 3w
hw

( )

3
10
3
(
)
Fcr =0.9 ( 14 ) 210 x 10

( 2000 )

Fcr =1323 x 10 3 N

F = l y t w f yw
F cr

 F = 922.5 ( 10 ) ( 355 )
1323 x 10 3
F =0.0014

X F=

0.5
1.0
F

X F=

0.5
1.0
0.0014

X F=1.0
Leff = X F l y
Leff = (1.0 )( 922.5 )
Leff =922.5 mm

F RD=

f yw L eff t w
m

F RD=

355 ( 922.5 ) ( 10 )
1.0

F RD=3274.9 kN

Verification

2 =

F Ed
F Rd

2 =

909
3274.9

2=0.27<1
.: Web Plate are adequate to cater for shear and prevent from web buckling

4. Prevention from Flange Buckling

hw
E
k
tw
f yf

Aw
A fc

2000
210 x 103 (2000 x 10)
0.3
10
355
(500 x 20)
200 251

Since

hw
E
<k
tw
f yf

Aw
. :web section was adequate prevent flange buckling
A fc

5. Design of Stiffeners
a. Rigid End Post
Determine clear center to center distance of stiffeners, e;

e> 0.1 hw
e> 200 mm
.: e = 250 mm
Cross sectional area for end post stiffeners

A>

4 hw t 2
e

A >3200

mm2

Cross sectional area for end post stiffeners > 3200 mm2

b. Intermediate Transverse Stiffeners

a 1000
=
hw 2000
a
=0.5< 2
hw

I st

1.5 h3w t 3
a2

I st

1.5 (2000 )3 ( 10 )3
10002
3

I st 12,000 x 10 mm

h b3
12,000 x 103 mm4
12
Assume thickness of stiffeners = 20 mm = h

b=

12 x 12 x 106
20

b=193 mm
.: Take b = 200 mm, hence intermediate stiffeners size - 200 x 2000 x 20 mm thk.
Check for cross sectional area of end post stiffeners by using same size of stiffeners;
(200 x 20 x 2) + ((250 - 20) x 10) = 10, 300 mm2 > 3,200 mm2 .: Stiffeners size provide
adequate