Comparative study on overall and local static performance of steel open‐web girders

SummaryTo quantify the mechanical properties of five types of steel open‐web girders that have been tested or applied in practical engineering, a systematic study of the overall and local mechanical properties of steel open‐web girders based on the same dimensions and material conditions was presented. An overall study of the quasi‐intersection beam method for shear deformation was introduced for 8 × 8 grid open‐web girders to derive the determinants of the load distribution factor. Based on the load distribution factors, the essence and formula of any shear key node domain (SKND) were derived theoretically. The reliability of the numerical model was verified by tests on the H‐type unidirectional SKNDs, which led to a comparative load–displacement study of unidirectional and bidirectional SKNDs. Quantitative results of the overall flexural capacity and SKND load capacity of the H‐type, TH‐type, TS‐type, T‐type, and DT‐type open‐web girders were obtained. The maximum shear deformation in the elastic phase of the five open‐web girders accounted for 39.04% to 54.76% of the overall deformation. In this study, the adjustment factors of the modeling analysis based on the current practical design of equivalent dense‐ribbed solid beams (DRSBs) were revised. A method of SKND's design load capacity under the action of bidirectional forces was put forward for the first time.