Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Structural Performance of Tapered Zigzag and Flat Web Steel Plate Girders Subjected to a Single Point Load

Abstract

This work discusses experimental and numerical findings about the behavior of tapered steel girders. The experimental program included the fabrication and testing of six simply supported tapered zigzag and flat web steel girders tested under central load. The tapered girders were classified into two types: zigzag and flat steel web with three web heights: 400 mm, 600 mm, and 800 mm. The total span of each specimen was 1800 mm, and the clear span between supports was 1600 mm. The main variables in the present experimental tests were the shape and height of the steel web girders. The experimental results for tapered flat web girders show that increasing the web height from 400 to 600 mm and 800 mm significantly improves the ultimate load capacity of the girders by 60% and 30%, respectively. Moreover, the zigzag web girders' ultimate capacity increased by (72%, 44%, and 18%) compared to the corresponding flat web girders. The maximum vertical middle of the span deflections of the tapered zigzag web girders were greater than that of the flat web girders (25%, 22%, and 39%). It was seen that the increase in web heights of tapered girders led to an increase in the ultimate vertical middle of the span displacements.