Influence of web thickness reduction in the shear resistance of non-prismatic tapered plate girders

Abstract

The evaluation of deteriorated members with corrosion, and consequent potential degradation of strength, is found in existing plate girder bridges. This difficult engineer’s task is based in a low level of information concerning the shear behaviour of corroded web panels. This insecurity in the evaluation of deterioration members of plate girders bridges must be minimized by using models based on sound theoretical principles, validated by extensive and reliable data.

In this paper are presented the results of degradation of strength, for critical and ultimate shear load, on tapered plate girders with local corrosion (web or flanges), using a nonlinear finite element analysis. In this way, it is also presented the development of a data base with several scenarios of degradation for the creation of predictive models for critical and ultimate shear stress in tapered webs, taking into account different scenarios of thickness reduction. In order to analyze the data generated in the finite element model, Data Mining techniques (e.g., Neural Networks) have been used.