Local Web Buckling of Coped Beams

Abstract

The local web buckling capacity of coped beams with various coping details is investigated by using finite element programs. A parametric study was conducted to establish the effects of stress concentration, shear stress, cope length, and cope depth on local web buckling strength. A plate buckling model based on the analyzed results was developed to check for elastic local web buckling in compression flange coped beams. It is found that conventional calculations for bending and shear yielding of the coped region provide a conservative approach for checking inelastic local web buckling. A series of ten full‐scale tests, eight rolled sections and two plate girders, along with four more tests that were taken from another research project are used to study the behavior of coped beams and to check the reliability of the design recommendations. The test results indicate that the proposed design provisions give conservative but reasonable results.