DESIGN METHOD FOR OPTIMUM UNSTIFFENED GIRDERS

The minimum weight design of constant height unstiffened plate girders has been formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem using the American Institute of Steel Construction specification. The girders are assumed to be symmetrical and fully restrained against lateral buckling. A two-stage minimization procedure is then employed to obtain minimum weight solutions. The results of the study are in the form of simple design curves and formulas which can be used for any loading condition. A rapid and accurate design method for plate girders with constant cross section is then proposed. It is also shown how this design can be extended to allow for limitation on girder height, flange curtailment, and discrete values of plate thickness. The study indicates that significant savings in material can be achieved when optimum girder proportions are employed instead of the widely used hot rolled steel sections. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Vachajitpan, P
  • Rockey, K C
• Publication Date: 1978-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 141-155
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Structural Division
  • Volume: 104
  • Issue Number: ST1
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridges; Buckling; Height; Honeycomb structures; Hot rolling; Optimization; Plate girders; Steel plates; Stiffness; Structural design; Thickness
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172904
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE 13459 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM