STRENGTH OF WEBS SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSIVE EDGE LOADING

The behavior and strength of hot rolled beams and fabricated plate gir ders, subjected to localized edge or patch loading in the plane of the web, is analyzed. Numerous tests carried out over the past 50 years h ave indicated that failure occurs due to web crippling, which is chara cterized by elastoplastic postbuckling of the web plate accompanied by the formation of a plastic collapse mechanism in the flange. The test s have also indicated that ultimate loads are approximately proportion al to the square of the web plate thickness, other parameters such as web depth, flange width and thickness, and even material yield strengt h, being relatively much less significant. Available test results are summarized and previously developed mechanism solutions for patch load ing between vertical web stiffeners are modified to provide improved p redictions of failure lends. The mechanism solutions are also reduced to simple closed form equations for routine practical application, whi ch are adapted to predict web crippling failures at simple end support s.