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Example - Tension-Field Design

A36 steel plate girder - 40 ft. simple span. Assume full lateral support of the compression
flange. Section: 60" x 1/4" web and 19" x 1" flange; Af = 19 in2, Aw = 15 in2. The loading for
the girder, as well as the shear and moment diagram, are shown below.

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Determine the moment capacity of the plate girder.
h
tw

60
= 240 > 5.70

29,000
= 161.7 Hence, SectionF5 controls
36

19
29,000
bf
=
= 9.5 < 10.8 = 0.38
= p
36
2 t f 2(1)
1
1 1
3
3
2
4
I x = ( )( )(60 ) + (2)( )(19)(1) + (2)(19)(30.5 ) = 39,853 i n
12
12 4
39,853
= 1285.6 i n 3
Sx = I x / y max =
31
h c t w 15
= = 0.7895
aw =
b f t f 19
FLB =

0.789
][240 - 161.8] = 0.9570
R PG = 1 - [
1200 + 300(0.789)
1
M n = (0.9)(1285.6i n 3)(0.9570)(36ksi)( ) = 3321. 7 lk > M u = 3180
12

Assume that bearing stiffeners are used at Points A, B, C and D.

Shear in Region BC
Investigate the need for stiffeners in the middle portion of the girder (Region BC) where the
shear force is quite low.
If no stiffeners are used, then kv = 5.
Also, note that h/tw = 240 > 1.37

k vE
= 86.9 .
Fy

Hence, the shear strength with no stiffeners is given as:

1
A w = (62) ( ) = 15.5 in 2
4
1.51Ek v
(1.51)(29,000)(5)
= (0.6)(36)(15.5)
V n = 0.6Fy A w
h 2
(240)2 (36)
( ) Fy
tw
V n = 35.35 - kips
V n = 0.9 V n = 31.8 > V u max = 24k

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Therefore, the web shear strength is adequate and no stiffeners are needed in Region BC.
Shear in Regions AB and CD
Tension-field used to compute transverse stiffener lay-out, except for first panel where tensionfield is not permitted.
For the first panel, tension-field is not permitted. Hence, solve for spacing required using Sect.
G2.2.
First Stiffener Spacing
Vn = 0.6Fy A w C v Vu
Cv

Vu
0.6Fy A w

1
A w = (62)( ) = 15.5 in 2
4
250
Cv
= 0.830
(0.9)(0.6)(36)(15.5)

Cv =

1.10 K v E/Fy
0.830
h
tw
2

(0.83)(240) 36
Kv
29,000 = 40.68
1.10

5
Kv = 5 +
40.68
(a/h)2

5
= 0.3744
35.68
a (0.3744)(60) = 22.5 in
a/h

Hence, select a = 22. This value will provide

K v = 42.19
Vn = 254.6k > Vu = 250 kips

For the remaining shear panels, then tension-field action may be used to locate the transverse
intermediate stiffeners.
Assume a = 41

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a 41
=
= 0.6833
h 60
5
kv = 5 +
= 15.71
(0.6833) 2
h
(15.71)(29,000)
= 240 > 1.37
= 154.1
tw
36
Cv =

1.51(29,000)(15.71)
= 0.3317
(240) 2 (36)

1 0.3317
Vn = (0.6)(36)(15.5) 0.3317 +
= 271.7 k
2

1.15 1 + (0.6833)
Vn = (0.9)(271.7) = 244.5k
22
Vu = 250 4 k / ft = 242.67 k
12
Vn = 244.5k > Vu = 242.7 k , so a = 41" is adequate.

A spread sheet program was used to solve for the remaining stiffener spacings.
a

Vu
250
242.7
229.0
213.0

xi
0
22
63
111

Vn
254.6
244.5
230.8
213.1

22
41
48
58

The stiffener layout above requires three transverse intermediate stiffeners, in addition to the two
bearing stiffeners in the end region of the beam.
0

22

43

22

111

41

48

168

57

If an additional stiffener is added, then the spacing can be made more uniform:
0

20

20

57

37

94

37

131

37

168

37

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Stiffener Design
Single Plate Transverse Stiffeners
Assume that single plate transverse stiffeners are used. Base the design on the largest
stiffener spacings, and use for all transverse stiffeners between Points A and B.
Calculation for 20" Stiffener Spacing

a/h =

Observe that

5
20
= 50.0
= 0.333, k = 5 +
2
60
(0.33 )
1.37

(50)(29,000)
= 274.9
36

1.10

(50)(29,000)
= 220.8
36

h
h
is between the limits: 220.8 <
= 240 < 274.9, so
tw
tw

1.10 k v E/Fy 220.8

=
= 0.9198
h
240
tw
Note that it is assumed (conservatively) that Vu/Vn = 1.0
Cv =

A st (1)[(0.15)(2.4)(60)(1/4)(1 - 0.9198)(1) - (18)(1/4 ) ]

A st 0.43 - 1.12 = - 0.69 in

Also, compute Ist:

j=

2.5
- 2 = 20.5
2
(0.33 )

3
4
3
Ist a t w j = (20)(1/4 ) (20.5) = 6.41 in

Try a 7" x 5/8" plate with the following properties:

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5
2
A st = (7) ( ) = 4.375 in
8
1 5
3
4
Ist = ( )( )(7 ) = 71.5 in
3 8
Calculation for 37" stiffener spacing
37
= 0.617
60
5
= 18.15
k =5+
(0.617 ) 2
a/h =

(18.15)(29,000)
= 165.6
36
1.51(29,000)(18.15)
= 0.3833
Cv =
(240 ) 2 (36)
Assume that the ratio of Vr/Vc is equal to 1.0, so
h/t = 240 > 1.37

A st (1) [(0.15)(2.4)(60)(1/4)(1 - 0.3833)(1) - (18)(1/4 ) ]

A st 3.33 1.125 = 2.21 in

Also, we must compute Ist:

j=

2.5
- 2 = 4.574
(0.617 ) 2

3
4
Ist (37)(1/4 ) (4.574) = 2.64 in

As before, the 7" x 5/8" stiffener plate appears to be adequate.

The stiffener plate must also satisfy local buckling requirements:

b
0.56
t

E
7

= 11.2 < 0.56

5/8
Fy st

Hence use 7" x 5/8" transverse stiffeners.

29,000
= 15.9
36