Plate Girder

A beam built up of steel plates and shapes which may be welded or bolted together to
form a deep beam larger than can be produced by a rolling mill (see illustration). As
such, it is capable of supporting greater loads on longer spans. The typical welded plate
girder consists of flange plates welded to a deep web plate. A bolted configuration
consists of flanges built of angles and cover plates bolted to the web plate. Both types
may have vertical stiffeners connected to the web plate, and both may have additional
cover plates on the flanges to increase the load capacity of the member. Box girders
consist of common flanges connected to two web plates, forming a closed section.

In general, the depth of plate girders is one-tenth to one-twelfth of the span length,
varying slightly for heavier or lighter loads. On occasion, the depth may be controlled
by architectural considerations.

Stiffeners, plates or angles, may be attached to the girder web by welding or bolting to
increase the buckling resistance of the web. Stiffeners are also required to transfer the
concentrated forces of applied loads and reactions to the web without producing local
buckling.

Splices are required for webs and flanges when full lengths of plates are not available
from the mills or when shorter lengths are more readily fabricated. Splices provide the
necessary continuity required in the web and flanges.
Types of Plate Girder
Shear Resistance Of Stiffened Girder
Shear resistance of a web

• Pre-buckling behaviour (Stage 1)

– Requirements of equilibrium in an element inside a square web plate

subject to a shear stress result in generation of complementary shear
stresses

– This results in element being subjected to principal compression along one

diagonal and tension along the other
Shear resistance of a web – 1

Buckling Of Web Plates In Shear

Reference

http://www.engr.mun.ca/~adluri/courses/steel/ppt%20files1/