Effect of longitudinal stiffener placement on web buckling of horizontally curved plate girder with one symmetry axis under flexure

The plate girders used in bridges usually have a deep and relatively thin web, therefore, the buckling of the web is one of the important factors in the design of such girders. While the limit state of web buckling dominant design, Longitudinal and transverse stiffeners are used to increase cross-sectional strength. The location of stiffeners in flat girders has been extensively studied, which has led to the most effective placement for longitudinal and transverse stiffeners. In the case of curved beams in the plan is not as extensive as in the case of flat girders, especially in the case of longitudinal stiffeners in the asymmetric section. Summarized herein is a study that explored single span, horizontally curved, plate girders having a yield stress of 50 ksi (345 MPa) to investigate their flexural behavior as a function of the position of a single longitudinal stiffener at various locations along the depth of the web. The studies were conducted using ABAQUS with the girder cross-sections under high vertical bending moment and low shear. As a result of these studies, recommendations are made for positioning longitudinal stiffeners on horizontally curved:-Placement of longitudinal stiffener at distances D/4, D/5, D/6 from the compression flange can control the flexural buckling of the web. -Among the above-mentioned locations, the location of the longitudinal stiffener at a distance of D/4 from the compression flange has the best shear response in the beam. Therefore, in this study, the optimal location of the longitudinal stiffener at a distance of D/4 from the compression flange.