Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structural interactions of stiffened box girders used in bridge construction and industrial facilities.

Design/methodology/approach – Numerical procedure is presented using combination of energy formulations and mathematical programming techniques to model the interaction between the box girder components.

Findings – Interactive buckling is a critical issue that must be accounted for in the design of box girders. Ignoring the structural interaction may lead to failures and damages prior to the expected design life.

Practical implications – Industrial examples are presented showing the variation of the flange buckling stress for various stiffening configurations. Graphs are presented for several box sections to provide cost-effective design space that can be effectively used in the industry to optimize the sections proportions.

Originality/value – Limited literature dealt with these aspects in the design of box girders. Current design equations available in codes of practice ignore the interaction between the stiffened box girder components. The paper highlights the influence of the flange/web proportions on the behavior of box sections subjected to various types of loadings. It is shown that behavior of the flange is largely affected by the restraints imposed by the webs.