Patch loading resistance of slender plate girders with multiple longitudinal stiffeners

There is currently no reliable and simple design method available in international literature for the determination of the patch loading resistance of slender plate girders having multiple longitudinal stiffeners. The current research focuses on the patch loading resistance of girders having multiple longitudinal stiffeners. An advanced numerical model is developed and verified by own laboratory test results. A numerical parametric study is executed to investigate the load-carrying capacity of girders having typical bridge geometries. Analysing the numerical simulation results, the structural behaviour obtained is classified based on the stiffener stiffness. Effect of the different geometrical parameters on the patch loading resistance is evaluated with special focus on the stiffener stiffness and distance between the longitudinal stiffeners. The failure modes depending on stiffener stiffness are investigated and the local buckling type failure is characterised by minimum stiffness. For this specific failure mode, an improved design method is developed, giving reliable resistance within the analysed parameter range. The presented resistance model is consistent with the design philosophy of EN 1993-1-5. The applicability of the improved design equation has been investigated for multiple stiffener places in unequal distances, which is the common case in praxis, and for bending and transverse force (M-F) interaction.