Design Formulas for Unstiffened and Stiffened Plate Girders in Shear

Abstract

AS current design codes are either too complicated or too inaccurate, a new approach is formulated by the posterior analysis of 254 worldwide tests. It is sufficiently accurate for design purposes, while also very simple. It permits the realistic proportioning not only of plate girder webs and flanges but also of the transverse and longitudinal stiffeners. The probabilistic aspect of modern safety philosophies is accounted for by introducing resistance factors that fit the 5% fractiles of test results as lower bounds of the ultimate strength.