Lateral-torsional buckling strength of corrugated web girders – Experimental study

Current standards and specifications do not provide specific design methods to determine the lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) strength of girders with trapezoidally corrugated web. In international literature there are some previous investigations available focusing on LTB web girders. Based numerical calculations analytical solutions have been derived in past, however, is a lack experimental test results prove or improve these proposals. The authors performed an extensive research program including eleven large-scale specimens. All different flange sizes, beside, having same corrugation profile. specimens loaded by pure in-plane bending simply supported boundary conditions. tested limited warping rotational restraint at supports. No distortional type failure observed. During tests longitudinal strains captured characteristic cross-sections displacements vertical lateral directions measured as well rotation mid-span cross-section. compared existing proposals regarding differences evaluated. It observed that imperfections key role behavior. curve “b” from Eurocode 3 preliminary proposed for determination executed gives useful background further studies.