International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME
AND TECHNOLOGY (IJCIET)
ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print)
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) IJCIET
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LATERAL BUCKLING OF COLD FORMED STEEL BEAM WITH

TRAPEZOIDAL CORRUGATED WEB

Mr. R.Divahar*, Dr. P.S.Joanna**

*(Research Scholar, Structural Engineering Department, Hindustan University, Padur, Chennai)
**(Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Hindustan University, Padur, Chennai)

ABSTRACT

Lateral buckling may occur in an unrestrained beam where its compression flange is free to
displace laterally. This paper presents the results of the experimental study of the lateral buckling
behaviour of cold-formed steel section with trapezoid web. A total of six cold-formed steel beams
with plain webs and corrugated webs were tested. The moment carrying capacity of cold-formed
steel beam with plain web is studied and compared with the moment carrying capacity of beam with
trapezoidal corrugated web having 300 and 450 corrugations. The specimens were tested under two
point loading for its pure flexural behaviour. From the study, it is found that the cold-formed steel
beam with trapezoidal corrugated web section have higher resistance to lateral buckling compared to
that of section with plain web. It is also found that the corrugation angles influence the resistance to
lateral buckling.

Keywords: Cold-Formed Steel Beam, Trapezoidal Corrugated Web, Moment Carrying Capacity,
Lateral Buckling.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Lateral-buckling is a major design aspect of flexural members of thin walled I-girders. When
a slender I-girder is subjected to flexure about its strong axis with insufficient lateral bracing out-of-
plane bending may occur as applied load approaches its critical value. At this critical value, lateral-
buckling occurs. The use of corrugated webs is potential method to achieve adequate out-of plane
stiffness and shear bulking resistance using without using stiffeners. Therefore, further lateral
restraints have to be provided to control lateral-buckling using corrugated web.
Denan et al (2010) carried out an experimental and numerical study on lateral torsional
buckling behaviour of hot-rolled steel section with trapezoidal web and found that steel beam with

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ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

trapezoidally corrugated web section have higher resistance to lateral tortional buckling compared to
that of section with plain web. Pasternak et al (2010) performed numerical analysis on the buckling
resistance of cold-formed steel beam with sinusoidally corrugated web and found that the bucking
failure of the web is prevented by the corrugation. H.R.Kazemi et al (2010) studied, the lateral-
torsional buckling of hot-rolled steel plate girder with corrugated webs numerically analysis using
ANSYS. It was concluded that the lateral torsional buckling of corrugated web is better performed
when compare with the models without corrugation. Tohamy et al (2013) performed numerical
analysis using ANSYS software on the efficiency of plate girder with corrugated web and found that
the plate girder with trapezoidally corrugated web with 300 corrugation has a higher load-carrying
capacity compared with other corrugation angle. 2004, Jamali investigated lateral torsional buckling
of trapezoid web profile. She also performed lateral torsional buckling tests on two beams with
normal flat web and two beams with trapezoid web profile. The experimental results of the both tests
indicated a greater resistance in lateral buckling provided by beams with trapezoid web profile.
Extensive research has been done on the performance of hot-rolled steel girder with
corrugated web. Hence in this investigation, the lateral- buckling of cold-formed steel beam with
corrugated web was carried out experimentally. A total of six cold-formed steel beams with plain
webs and corrugated webs were tested. Out of the six specimens, two controlled specimens were
tested with plain webs and the other four specimens were tested with corrugated webs. The degrees
of corrugation were the variables among the specimens. The specimens were tested under two point
loading for its pure flexural behaviour.

2.0 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

2.1 Test Specimen Details

The test specimen consist of cold-formed steel beams with plain web and trapezoidally
corrugated web having 300 and 450 corrugations. The span of the beam was 2000mm and the cross
section of the I-beams are 150mm x100mm x 2.5mm.The yield strength of steel used is
210N/mm2.The cold-formed steel beam is built up by welding the flanges and the web using
intermittent welds of 4mm thick. A pair of stiffeners was provided at both the load points to
minimize local effect due to concentrated loads. Table 1 shows the details of the specimens tested. A
six lettered designation is given to the specimens. First 3 letters represents the nature of web whether
the web is plain or corrugated, 4th one indicate the degree of corrugation of the web, 5th one represent
the depth of the beam and the last one identify the specimen in a particular series as two specimens
were tested in each series.

Figure 1: Fabricated specimens

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

Table 1: Details of the specimens tested

SL.No Beam Number

1 PWB 00, 150-1

2 PWB 00, 150-2

3 CWB 300, 150-1

4 CWB 300, 150-2

5 CWB 450, 150-1

6 CWB 450, 150-2 Trapezoidally corrugated web

2.2 Test set-up

The testing was carried out in a loading frame of 400 kN capacity. All the specimens were
tested for flexural strength under two point loading in the vertical loading frame. The specimens
were arranged with simply supported conditions, centered over bearing blocks adjusted for a
effective span of 1.8 m. Loads were applied at one-third distance from the supports at a uniform rate
till the ultimate failure of the specimens occurred. Linear Voltage Displacement Transducers
(LVDTs) were used for measuring deflections at several locations, one at mid span, two directly
below the loading points and two near the end supports as shown in the Figure 2. Strain gauges and
LVDTs were connected to a data logger from which the readings were captured by a computer at
every load intervals until failure of the beam occurred. The beams were subjected to two-point loads
under a load control mode. The experimental set-up for the test specimens are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2: Position of LVDTs and Strain gauges

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ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

Figure 3: Experimental set-up for the test specimens

3.0 TEST RESULTS

3.1 Observed Failure Mode

The failure pattern of the test specimens is shown in Figure 4.Beams with plain web failed by
shear buckling of web. In the specimens with 450 trapezoidally corrugated web, failure occurred by
local flange buckling and further loading causes local shear buckling of corrugated web, but the
specimens with 300 trapezoidally corrugated web failed by local flange buckling under the load
points.

(a) PWB 00, 150-1 (b) PWB 00, 150-2 (c) CWB 300, 150-1

(d) CWB 300, 150-8 (e) CWB450, 150-1 (f) CWB 450, 150-2
Figure 4: Failure pattern of the test specimens

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

3.2 Load Versus Deflection Curves

The experimental load-deflection curves of the cold-formed steel beams with plain webs and
corrugated webs are shown in Figure 5. The specimens with plain web PWB 00, 150-1&2 failed at an
average load of 37.15 kN with a central deflection of 12.5 mm and The other specimens CWB
300,150-1 &2 and CWB450, 150-1&2 failed at an average loads of 46.55 kN and 45.55 kN with the
corresponding average deflections of 7.85 mm and 8.55 mm respectively.

(a) PWB 00, 150-1 (b) PWB 00, 150-2

(c) CWB 300, 150-1 (d) CWB 300, 150-2

(e) CWB 450, 150-1 (f) CWB 450, 150-2

Figure 5: Load versus deflection curves for the test specimens

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

3.3 Strength Capacity of the Specimens

The trajectory of strength capacity of the specimens is shown in Figure 6. For the specimens
with 150mm depth, the load carrying capacity of the beam having 300 corrugated web is 2.2% and
25.3% more than the specimens having 450 corrugation and plain web respectively.

Figure 6: Comparison of strength capacity of a specimens

3.4 Lateral-Buckling of Beam

Lateral buckling tests were conducted on three sets of beams, each set consists of two
specimens. A total of six cold-formed steel beams with plain webs and corrugated webs were tested.
Out of the six specimens, two controlled specimens were tested with plain webs and the other four
specimens were tested with 300 and 450corrugated webs.
The value of lateral buckling moment resistance was determined from the intersection of
tangent of the first and second curve. The intersection method was known as “knee joint” which has
been used by other researchers, to determine the moment resistance of connection. The values of
lateral buckling resistance, Mlb for all specimens were determined when a “knee” shape was
observed. In each graph, two tangent lines were drawn and the intersection of these two lines gives
the Mlb value. Figure 7 shows the Lateral-Buckling for the test specimens.

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ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

(a) PWB 00, 150-1 (b) PWB 00, 150-2

(c) CWB 300, 150-1 (d) CWB 300, 150-2

(e) CWB 450, 150-1 (f) CWB 450, 150-2

Figure 7: Lateral-Buckling for the test specimens

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ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 5, Issue 3, March (2014), pp. 217-225 © IAEME

Figure 8: Comparison of lateral buckling of a specimens

Figure 8, shows the comparison between plain web, corrugated with 300 and 450 in the lateral
bucking for the test specimens. It was found the lateral buckling of the beam having 300 corrugated
web is 1% and 7.3% more than the specimens having 450 corrugation and plain web respectively.

4.0 CONCLUSIONS

The following observations and conclusions can be made on the basis of the experiments
conducted on the six cold-formed steel beams with plain and trapezoidally corrugated web.

• Steel beam with trapezoidally corrugated web section have higher resistance to lateral buckling,
compared to that of section with plain web.

• The average load carrying capacity of cold-formed steel beams with 300 corrugated webs
increases by 25% than the beam with plain web. But there is an only marginal increase in load
carrying of beam with 300 corrugated web than that of beam with 450 corrugated web.

• Beams with plain web showed shear buckling of web, but there failure due to shear in web is
eliminated due to corrugated web.

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5.0 REFERENCES

1. Fatimah Denan, Mohd Hanim Osman & Sariffuddin saad, (2010), “The Study of Lateral
Torsional Buckling Behaviour of Beam with Trapezoid Web Steel Section by Experimental
and Finite Element Analsis”, International Journal of Research and Reviews in Applied
Sciences, Vol.2, pp.232-240.
2. Hartmut Pasternak and Gabriel Kubieniec, (2010), “Plate Girders with Corrugated Web”,
Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, Vol 16(2), pp.166-171.
3. Kazemi Nia Korrani.H.R and Molanaei.S, (2010), “ The Effect of the Corrugation Profiles of
the Web on the Lateral-Torsional Buckling Strength of the Inelastic I-Girder”, World Applied
Sciences Journal, Vol.8(5), pp.527-530.
4. Sedky Abdullah Tohamy., Osama Mohamed Abu El Ela., Amr Bakr Saddek and Ahmed
Ibrahim Mohamed. (2013) “Efficiency of Plate Girder with Corrugated Web Versus Plate
Girder with Flat Web”. Minia Journal of Engineering and Technology, Vol.32, No1, pp.62-77.
5. S.Jamali, (2008) “Lateral Torsional Buckling of Trapezoid Web Profile”, MSc Thesis,
University Teknologi Malaysia.
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& Technology (IJCIET), Volume 3, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 111 - 127, ISSN Print: 0976 – 6308,
ISSN Online: 0976 – 6316.
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