Design and Optimization of Plate Girders and Weld-fabricated Beams for Building Construction

Currently, design of plate girders and weld-fabricated beams necessitates an iteration of trial designs to establish the web-buckling range used in analysis. The material presented here illustrates an expeditious mathematical and nomo-graphic design method for bisymmetric plate girders and weld-fabricated beams, as well as material-optimization for any given moment-shear combination. The method shown is based on the web-buckling theory (no tension-field action), and on the assumption of flange configurations that do not necessitate bending-stress reductions in the compression flange. Design examples are given numerically and shown on nomo-graphs.