Chapter 8 - Bending Members

Figure 8.6.2.1

2006, 2007,
T. Bartlett
Quimby
Beam2008
with Cover
Plates

Figure 8.6.2.2
Typical W Section with Cover Plates

Section 8.6.2

Cover Plates
Last Revised: 06/16/2011

Cover plates are plates added to the flanges of beams to increase the
flexural capacity of the beam over some portion of the beam. The use of
cover plates in regions of high moment allows the use of a section of lesser
weight and lesser flexural capacity to be used as the primary beam. This
may result in a cost savings in some cases. Figure 8.6.2.1 shows a typical
bridge beam with cover plates. Figure 8.6.2.2 shows a typical drawing of a
W section with cover plates.
This technique is useful for compact beams that are not subject to the limit
state of lateral torsional buckling (LTB). SCM F13.3 specifies many of the
parameters associated with the design of cover plates.

Determining Size of Cover Plates

In the case of a compact beam not subject to LTB, the flexural limit state is
stated as:
Req'd Mn = (Mu/ or Ma) < FyZtotal
Adding cover plates increases the Z of the section. For symmetrical cross
sectionss with symmetrically applied plates, the design inequality becomes:
Req'd Mn < Fy (Zsection + Zplates)
For design purposes, this equation can be re-written as:
Zplates > (Req'd Mn / Fy) - Zsection
For symmetrical plates, Z is the area of one plate times the distance
between the centers of the two plates, so the strength requirement for
symmetrical cover plates becomes:
Zplates = bt (d+t) > (Req'd Mn / Fy) - Zsection
Where
d is the overall depth of the steel section to which the cover plates are
being added and
t is the thickness of the cover plates.
For unsymmetrical plates (i.e. the cover plates are of different sizes or a
cover plate is applied to only one flange), the Z for the whole section must
be recomputed using basic concepts. This will involve finding the centriodal
axis, locating the center of the areas above and below the centriodal axis,
then finding Z by:
Ztotal = (Ag/2) (distance between the centroids of the two halves)
A restriction on the relative values of b and t is the requirement that the
plate be compact. As the plate is generally connected to the flange with
welds or bolts on both sides, the cover plated is considered a stiffened
element and SCM Table B4.1 case 12 applies:
b/t < 1.12 sqrt(E/Fy)
As there are two design variables, b and t, there are an infinite number of
combinations of the variables that will result in a Ztotal that matches Zreq'd.
The best solution is generally the one that yields the smallest area, bt.
Determining the Length of Cover Plates
The cover plate must extend, at a minimum, over the distance where the
moment demand exceeds the moment capacity provided by base section

without the cover plates. Figure 8.6.2.3 illustrates this concept. In the
example shown the moment capacity of the base section is sufficient near
the ends of the member where the moment is low but needs to be enhanced
where moment demand exceeds the capacity of the base section. The
intersection of the moment demand and moment capacity curves can
generally be determine mathematically since it is possible to write equations
for both curves.
Figure 8.6.2.3
Cover Plate Length

SCM F13.3 requires that the plates extend beyond the theoretical cutoff
points but does not give any guidance on how far. In keeping with a similar
requirement in concrete beams, a safe bet would be to extend the plates a
distance of d, the depth of the section, beyond the theoretical cut off points.
This is likely to be very conservative for deeper beams, so engineering
judgment is to be used when selecting the actual cutoff location.
One reason for extending beyond the theoretical cutoff point is to account
for uncertainty associated with the probabilities used in predicting the loads
applied to the beam.
Another reason for extending the cover plates is to account for the presence
of stress concentrations. It has been well established that locations where
there is a change in geometric stiffness there are larger stresses in the
member than predicted by the basic mechanics stress equations.
Consequently it is good to make this transition (from beam without cover
plate to beam with cover plate), which is a change in geometric stiffness,
where there is some reserve capacity in the member.
Connecting Cover Plates to Flanges
SCM F13.3 requires connections to "be proportioned to resist the total
horizontal shear resulting from the bending forces on the girder." Using the
shear flow equation from mechanics, the force per unit length of plate, q, at
any location along beam that must be transferred between the plate and
beam is:

q = b = (Req'd Vn) Q / I = (Req'd Vn) [bt((d+t)/2)] / I

Where Req'd Vn = Vu/ or Va, depending of design philosophy being used.
Since Req'd Vn varies with position on the beam, q also varies along the
length of the beam.
For welds, q is the required strength of the two fillet welds that would be
applied along each side of the plate. The size will vary along the length of
the beam. Once the required weld size drops below minimum size, the weld
may be spaced intermittently.
For bolts (and intermittently spaced welds), the spacing is determined by
Req'd Rn = q s < (2 connectors) rn
s < 2 rn / q
Where rn = nominal shear strength of one weld segment or one bolt.
The function for required spacing, s, can be graphed along the length of the
beam. The actual connector spacing at any given part of the beam will need
to be less than what is required. Figure 8.6.2.4 shows such a graph. Note
that fastener spacing is infinite where req'd Vn is zero (i.e. at mid-span in this
case).

Figure 8.6.2.4
Fastener Spacing vs. Location

In practice ,some designers like to limit fastener spacing to no more than the
width of the cover plate or flange, whichever is smaller.

A more analytical method (not found in the SCM) is to compute a maximum

spacing based on buckling strength of the cover plate with the goal being to
select a spacing that keeps the Euler buckling stress of the cover plate
greater than Fy.
Fy < 2 E / (Le / r)2
Where:
Le = 0.5 s (Assumes fixed ends, no joint translation)
r = sqrt( I / A )
I = bt3 / 12
A = bt
Making the substitutions for I and A and solving for the spacing s:
s < t sqrt( E / (3 Fy))
Any spacing, s, that meets this criteria will prevent buckling and control the
spacing when the beam shear is low.
To summarize the fastener spacing requirement:
s < minimum [ 2 rn / q , t sqrt( E / (3 Fy)) ]
Additional requirements for the termination of weld at the ends of the plate
are given in SCM J13.3.
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