Flange buckling in stainless-steel corrugated webs I-girders under pure bending: Numerical study

Structural elements with corrugated webs are used in a variety of applications, including buildings and bridges. Due to the high shear strength of the corrugated web, these elements offer a material-efficient design. Among various design aspects of beams with corrugated webs, studies on the flange buckling in these beams are scarce. Previous research has shown that the EN1993–1-5 flange buckling resistance model frequently predicts unsafe resistances. Moreover, the design model in EN1993–1-5 is developed exclusively for carbon steel and not updated for stainless steel. In this paper, an investigation into the flange buckling behaviour in duplex stainless-steel girders is provided. A parametric finite element model is developed and validated. Linear buckling analysis (LBA) and geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis with imperfections (GMNIA) are conducted using finite element analysis for 410 girders with typical bridge girders dimensions. The results are compared to previously developed models for C[sbnd]Mn steel, and a new buckling curve and entire design procedure for duplex stainless-steel girders with corrugated webs are provided to account for flange buckling. The study demonstrates that the new proposed design model provides better estimations of flange buckling resistance than prior proposed models.