B.Durga Prakash et al.

/ International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)

Strengthening of steel beam around

rectangular web openings

B.Durga Prakash1,
V.N.I.T.,Nagpur

L.M.Gupta2,
Professor, Applied Mechanics, V.N.I.T.Nagpur

P.D.Pachpor3 *,
Asso.Prof. Civil Engg., SRKNEC, Nagpur

N.V.Deshpande4
Professor, Civil Engg., SRKNEC, Nagpur

ABSTRACT:

Modern multistory buildings always have a stringent requirement on headroom, in order to accommodate
buildings services within the constructional depth of floor; it is common practice to provide web openings in
structural floor beams for passage of services. The structural behavior of steel beams with web openings, and
also for composite beams with single rectangular web openings, both with or without reinforcement is studied.
Rectangular web openings are often formed with various aspect ratios, while the web openings depth is
restricted to 50% of the overall section height. Though several design procedures have been developed for
structural beam with web openings, to date the behavior of steel beams with web openings is not known due to
the large no: of parameters involved and the complexity involved in analyzing the steel beams with web
openings. In this paper Finite Element Analysis is used to analyze the steel beams. The stress values & the
deflections are observed. The results have been plotted for stress values and the deflections, with respect to the
change in span ratio.

KEYWORDS: Finite element analysis, stress ratio, perforated beam, web reinforcement

INTRODUCTION:

Steel is very important material for industrialization and structural designer have explored many ways of
decreasing the cost of steel structure but have often being prevented from utilizing the high strength properties
of structural steel by building code requirements on maximum allowable deflection of structural member from
architecture point of view. As a result of this several methods have been advised to increase the load carrying
capacity without increase in weight of steel required.
Steel beams with large web openings are used to provide utilities such as Hot water lines, Electrical lines, Fire
exists etc. The exposed sections of the steel beams with large web openings also give a good architectural
emphasis. These sections give greater moment of inertia as compared to solid sections without any openings.
The provision of these web openings has a significant effect on the stress distribution and deformation
characteristics. These Steel beams with web openings have a very high stress concentration at the corners of
openings and the deformations are also large. These make the necessity to analyze these steel beams with web
openings

The scope of study deals with Aspect ratio, Deformation characteristics, Load carrying capacity and Vierendeel
mechanism.

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Methods of design:

1). Tee section approach:

In this approach the perforated section considered to be built up of two tee sections that are separated by a
distance according to the height of the web opening. The structural adequacy of the steel beams depends on the
section capacities of the tee sections under co-existing axial and shears forces, and local moments. In general the
design methods with this approach are complicated and the calculation effort is considerable. The accuracy of
the methods depends on the accuracy of design rules against respective expressions and often presented to
reduce the calculation effort, leading to conservative results.

2). Perforated section approach:

In this method the perforated section is the critical section to be considered in design, and the structural
adequacy of the steel beams depends on the section capacities of the perforated sections under co-existing global
shear forces and moments. Generally Simple and empirical moment-shear interaction curves are often used, and
thus, the design methods are generally considered to be simple, straight forward, and suitable for engineers in
practice in their practical design. However, the design methods are somehow restrictive with limited
applications, and often, they are very conservative.

Proposed specifications:
Proposed specifications for structural steel beams with web openings as given by the American Society for Civil
Engineers task committee on design criteria for composite structures in steel and concrete are as follows
(1) The strength of a flexural member at a web opening shall be determined based on the interaction of
flexure and shear at the opening. Any procedure may be used that results in prediction of strength in
substantial agreement with results of comprehensive tests.
(2) The maximum nominal flexural capacity at an opening shall be determined from the plastic stress
distribution on the net section. When an opening is reinforced, flexural capacity shall not exceed the
nominal flexural capacity of the unperforated section without reinforcement.
(3) The maximum nominal shear capacity at an opening shall equal the sum of the shear capacities of the
regions below and above the opening.
(4) The member must be a compact section and the depth of opening shall not exceed 0.7d, where‘d’ is the
depth of the steel section.
(5) The rectangular opening should be provided with a corner radius of not less than two times thickness of
the web or 5/8 inch, which ever is greater.

Aspect Ratio:
Aspect ratio is the ratio of width of the opening to the depth of the opening. In this problem the Aspect ratio is
varied from 1.0 to 2.0 and the results has been plotted to observe the variation in Yield ratio. Various depths of
openings as given below have been considered.
Dh/Dw = 0.50 and Rectangular opening with various aspect ratios ranging from 1.0 to 2.0
Dh/Dw = 0.62 and Rectangular opening with various aspect ratios ranging from 1.0 to 2.0
Dh/Dw = 0.75 and Rectangular opening with various aspect ratios ranging from 1.0 to 2.0
Fig 1 shows the depth and width of opening and the Fig 2 shows the model in ANSYS. Fig 3 to 14 shows
various graphs plotted against Yield ratio Vs Span ratio and Deflection Vs Span ratio. Yield value of 250
N/mm2 is considered

Depth
Width

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

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Sectional Properties:
ISMB 300@44.2 kg/m, Height = 300 mm, Width of flange = 140 mm, Thickness of flange = 12.4 mm,
Thickness of web = 7.5 mm, Young’s Modulus = 210000 N/mm2
Beam: length of 4.00m with loading of 100KN/m2

2.40 Stress ratio / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75

2.00 Dh/Dw=0.50
Stress ratio / Span ratio Aspect ratio 1.2 Dh/Dw=0.62
Aspect ratio 1.0 Dh/Dw=0.62 2.20 Loading 100 kN / m2 & Fy 250 N/mm2 Dh/Dw=0.50
1.80 2
Loading 100 kN / m & Fy 250 N/mm
2 Dh/Dw=0.75
Without opening
Without opening 2.00
1.60
1.80

1.40 1.60

Stress ratio
1.40
1.20
Stress ratio

1.20
1.00
1.00

0.80
0.80

0.60 0.60

0.40
0.40
0.20
0.20
0.00
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
0.00 Span ratio
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

3.00
Stress ratio / Span Ratio Dh/Dw=0.75
2.80 Aspect ratio 1.4 Dh/Dw=0.62 3.00 Stress ratio / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75
Loading 100 kN / m2 & Fy 250 N/mm2 Dh/Dw=0.62
2.60 Dh/Dw=0.50 2.80 Aspect ratio 1.6
Dh/Dw=0.50
Without opening Loading 100 kN / m2 & Fy 250 N/mm2 Without opening
2.40 2.60

2.20 2.40

2.00 2.20

1.80 2.00
Stress ratio

1.60 1.80
Stress ratio

1.40 1.60

1.20 1.40

1.00 1.20

0.80 1.00

0.60 0.80

0.40 0.60

0.20 0.40

0.00 0.20
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
0.00
Span ratio 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio

Fig. 5 Fig. 6

3.60 4.00
3.40 Stress ratio / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75 Stress ratio / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75
3.75
Aspect ratio 1.8 Dh/Dw=0.62 Aspect ratio 2.0 Dh/Dw=.62
3.20 2 2
Loading 100 kN / m2 & Fy 250 N/mm2 3.50 Loading 100 kN / m & Fy 250 N/mm Dh/Dw=0.50
3.00
Dh/Dw=050
3.25
Without opening
Without opening
2.80
3.00
2.60
2.75
2.40
2.50
2.20
Stress ratio
Stress ratio

2.00 2.25

1.80 2.00

1.60 1.75

1.40 1.50
1.20 1.25
1.00
1.00
0.80
0.75
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.25
0.20
0.00
0.00
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio
Span ratio

Fig. 7 Fig. 8

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3.050 Dh/Dw=0.75
Deflection / Span ratio
Aspect ratio 1.0 Dh/Dw=0.62 3.300
3.000 Dh/Dw=0.75
(Loading 100 kN / m2) Dh/Dw=0.50 Deflection / Span ratio
Without opening Aspect ratio 1.2 Dh/Dw=0.62
2.950 3.200 2 Dh/Dw=0.50
(Loading 100 kN / m )
Without opening
2.900
3.100
2.850
Deflection 'mm'
2.800 3.000

Deflection 'mm'
2.750
2.900

2.700

2.800
2.650

2.600
2.700

2.550
2.600
2.500
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio 2.500
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio

Fig. 9 Fig. 10

3.700 Deflection / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75

Deflection / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75 4.100 Aspect ratio 1.6 Dh/Dw=0.62
3.600 Aspect ratio 1.4 Dh/Dw=0.62 (Loading 100 kN / m )
2 Dh/Dw=0.50
(Loading 100 kN / m2) Dh/Dw=0.50 Without opening
3.900
3.500 Without opening

3.400 3.700

3.300
3.500

Deflection 'mm'
Deflection 'mm'

3.200

3.100 3.300

3.000
3.100

2.900
2.900
2.800

2.700 2.700

2.600
2.500
2.500 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio

Fig. 11 Fig. 12

4.750
Deflection / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75
5.750
Aspect ratio 1.8 Dh/Dw=0.62 Deflection / Span ratio Dh/Dw=0.75
4.500
(Loading 100 kN / m2) Dh/Dw=0.50 5.500 Aspect ratio 2.0 Dh/Dw=0.62
Without opening (Loading 100 kN / m2) Dh/Dw=0.50
5.250
4.250 Without opening
5.000
4.000
4.750
Deflection 'mm'

3.750 4.500
Deflection 'mm'

4.250
3.500
4.000

3.250 3.750

3.500
3.000
3.250
2.750
3.000

2.500 2.750
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio 2.500
0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90
Span ratio

Fig. 13 Fig. 14

Observations:

 The stress value is increasing steeply for Dh/Dw = 0.75 for aspect ratio changing from 1.0 to 2.0
 The deflection values are also very high for Dh/Dw=0.75 and for higher aspect ratio of 2.0

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Strengthening
Steel plates are provided all round the opening parallel to the width of the opening and perpendicular to the web
in order to study there effects on yield ratio and deflection. The various aspects such as, offset and thickness of
the plate are varied so as to observe there effects on the stress ratio and deflection. It is seen from the previous
chapters, that the stress and the deflection values are higher when the web opening is provided near to the
support, and hence here the stress ratio and the deflection are considered at a span ratio of 0.10 (i.e. the opening
is near to the support). The value of the yield stress considered for both I section as well as for strengthening
plate is 250 N/mm2. For the Fig 16 to Fig 17 shown, the Y-axis consists of either stress ratio or deflection
values, where as the X-axis consists of values considered at a span ratio of 0.10. The example considered is
same as shown in Fig 15, I section model in ANSYS and the properties remains same. Total of 26 area
elements and 6000 nodes are considered in order to model the strengthening plate along with the web. Nodes
near the boundaries are merged in order to maintain the compatibility of displacements along the boundaries of
the elements. The fillet is provided around the corners of the opening, in order not to have stress instability. The
radius of the fillet considered is of 20mm. In order to avoid the shape deviation of the elements very finer mesh
is considered for the strengthening plate as well as at critical points

The results have been plotted for various lengths of offsets and thickness. Offset, it is horizontal projection of
the strengthening plate perpendicular to the web. Initially thickness of the strengthening plate equal to thickness
of web is considered later the thickness of the strengthening plate is changed to thickness of the flange and the
results obtained has been shown in Fig 16 & Fig 17.
Tp=Thickness of strengthening plate
Tf=Thickness of flange
Tw= Thickness of web

Fig 15

Fig 15 I section model in ANSYS

Stress Ratio
for various offset & thickness of plate
(loading=100 kN/m2) & Fy 250 N/mm2
2.2

2
Tp=Thickness of plate &
Tf=Thickness of Flange &
1.8 Tw=Thickness of web

1.6

1.4
Stress ratio

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
without Opening With opening but no Tp=Tw& 30mmOffset Tp=Tw& 70mmOffset Tp=Tf& 30mmOffset Tp=Tf& 70mmOffset
plate is provided

Value at Span ratio 0.10

Fig 16 Stress ratio for span ratio at 0.10

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Deflection
for various offset & thickness of plate
(loading=100 kN/m2) & Fy 250 N/mm2
3.5
3.315
Tp=Thickness of Plate &
3.25 3.107 Tf=Thickness of flange &
Tw=Thckness of web
3
2.736 2.722 2.714
2.75
2.578
2.5

2.25
Deflection 'mm'

1.75

1.5

1.25

0.75

0.5

0.25

0
without Opening With opening but no Tp=Tw& 30mmOffset Tp=Tw& 70mmOffset Tp=Tf& 30mmOffset Tp=Tf& 70mmOffset
plate is provided

Value at Span ratio 0.10

Fig 17 Deflection for span ration at 0.10

Observations
There is a considerable reduction in stress ratio for the I section considered with uniformly distributed
loading i.e., the reduction in stress ratio is from 2.172 to 0.572 by strengthening the plate with 70 mm
offset length and thickness of the strengthening plate equal to the thickness of the flange.

 There is a reduction in deflection for the I section considered with uniformly distributed
loading i.e., the reduction in deflection is from 3.10 mm to 2.71 mm by strengthening the
plate with 70 mm offset length and thickness of the strengthening plate equal to the thickness
of the flange.

Conclusions

 The rectangular web openings of 0.75 depth of web has a very high stress intensity compared to the
other depth of openings such as 0.62d and 0.50d
 It is preferable to provide web openings in the bending predominant region, i.e. web openings should
not be provided near the shear dominant regions. Web openings show greater stress intensity at the
shear dominant region.
 The stress value is increasing steeply for Dh/Dw = 0.75 for aspect ratio changing from 1.0 to 2.0
 The deflection values are also very high for Dh/Dw=0.75 and for higher aspect ratio of 2.0
 There is a considerable reduction in stress ratio for the I section considered with uniformly distributed
loading i.e., the reduction in stress ratio is from 2.172 to 0.572 by strengthening the plate with 70 mm
offset length and thickness of the strengthening plate equal to the thickness of the flange.
 There is a reduction in deflection for the I section considered with uniformly distributed loading i.e.,
the reduction in deflection is from 3.10 mm to 2.71 mm by strengthening the plate with 70 mm offset
length and thickness of the strengthening plate equal to the thickness of the flange.

References:

[1] T.C.H. Liu, K.F. Chung. Steel Beams with large web openings of various shapes & sizes: Finite Element Investigation, Journal of
Constructional Steel Research 59 (2003) 1159-1176
[2] T.C.H. Liu, K.F. Chung, A.C.H.Ko, Steel Beams with large web openings of various shapes & sizes: Finite Element Investigation: an
empirical design method using a generalized moment-shear interaction curve, Journal of Constructional Steel Research 59 (2003)
1177-1200.

[3] R.A.LaBoube, W.W.Yu, S.U.Deshmukh & C.A.Uphoff. Crippling capacity of web elements with openings, Journal of Structural

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Engineering/ February 1999/ 137.

[4] Walid Zaroor & Richard Redwood. Web buckling in thin webbed castellated beams, Journal of Structural Engineering/ August/ 1996.
[5] N.E.shanmugham, V.T.Lian, V.Thevendran, Finite element investigation on plate girders with web openings, www.elsiever.com, Thin
walled structures 40 (2002) 443.
[6] K.F. Chung, C.H.Ko, and A.J. Wang, Design of steel and composite beams with web openings – Verification using finite element
method, Steel and Composite Structures Vol. 5. No. 2-3 (2005) 203-233.

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