Web Bend-Buckling of Steel Plate Girders Reinforced by Two Longitudinal Stiffeners with Various Cross-Section Shapes

This work performs an investigation into the optimal position of two longitudinal stiffeners with different cross-section shapes such as open section (L-shaped and T-shaped) closed (rectangular triangular shapes) stiffened plate girders under bending loading through optimization procedure using a gradient-based interior point (IP) algorithm. The stiffener optimum locations are found by maximizing bend-buckling coefficient, kb, generated from eigenvalue buckling analyses in Abaqus. efficiently combines finite element method IP algorithm is implemented Abaqus2Matlab toolbox which allows for transfer data between Matlab Abaqus vice versa. It that proposed methodology can lead to design steel girder all types acceptable accuracy reduced computational effort. Based on results, positions various presented first time. reported (T- L-shaped) similar flat cross-section, while sections) slightly different. One main findings this study coefficient having shape highest lowest among considered latter case has minimum requirement regarding web thickness.