In-plane strength of steel arches with a sinusoidal corrugated web under a full-span uniform vertical load: Experimental and numerical investigations. (1st March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Yan-Lin; Chen, Hang; Pi, Yong-Lin; Bradford, Mark Andrew
• Is Part Of: Engineering structures. Volume 110(2016:Mar. 01)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2016-03-01
• Subjects: Sinusoidal corrugated web -- Circular arch -- In-plane strength -- Experimental study; Structural engineering -- Periodicals; Structural analysis (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Construction, Technique de la -- Périodiques; Génie parasismique -- Périodiques; Pression du vent -- Périodiques; Earthquake engineering; Structural engineering; Wind-pressure; Periodicals; 624.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.11.056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-0296

Abstract

Highlights: Experiments on in-plane strength of sinusoidal corrugated web arch are carried out. FE numerical models of the arches are validated by experimental results. In-plane strength design equations under FSUVL are proposed and validated by tests. Abstract: This paper reports experimental and numerical investigations used to develop a simple and accurate design method for the in-plane strength of circular steel I-section arches having a sinusoidal corrugated web under a uniform vertical load over the entire span. In deference to a flat web that can resist both shear and normal stresses, a sinusoidal corrugated web can resist only shear stresses, since its axial and bending stiffnesses are quite small. Tests are carried out to investigate the global in-plane elasto-plastic behaviour and strength of a circular steel I-section arch with a sinusoidal corrugated web under symmetric loading. A finite element model is also developed, validated by the test results, and then used to further investigate the global in-plane elasto-plastic behaviour and strength of the steel arches. Based on the test and finite element results, a design equation for predicting the global in-plane strength of circular steel I-section arches with a sinusoidal corrugated web subjected to a uniform vertical load over the entire span is proposed. It is found from the finite element results that in addition to an in-plane global failure mode, a circular steel I-section arch with a corrugated web may also fail in an elasto-plastic web shear buckling mode. Hence, elasto-plastic shear buckling of the sinusoidal corrugated web in arches must also be considered in their design.