Imperfections in steel girder webs with and without perforations under patch loading

In this paper, the problem of stability of web plates with imperfections, subjected to patch load, is studied. The aim is to give some insights about the best way to take into account real imperfections in non-linear stability analyses of plates with and without perforations. In this context, the study is developed on the basis of the measured imperfections or numerically deriving the deformed model (theoretical imperfections). The influence of the patch load length, out-of-plane imperfection amplitude, dimension and position of the hole on stability behaviour and buckling strength are studied comparing some theoretical deformed configurations corresponding to different modal shapes. The results obtained with a three-dimensional model of the whole real beam with stiffeners, with experimentally measured imperfections, and each corresponding single web panel are compared and discussed obtaining some insights about the accuracy of the simplified (and conservative) model of the single panel. The main insights of this work are as follows. The deformed shape, corresponding to the first buckling mode, can be assumed as the initial configuration of the panels with and without holes to study post-critical behaviour until ultimate condition. The shape of the imperfection does not severely change the critical buckling stress. A longer patch load reduces the ultimate stress in the panel. An initial imperfection amplitude of less than 1% of the height of the panel does not reduce the ultimate load by more than about 5%. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.