Finite Element Investigations on Structural Performance of Steel I-Beams with Reinforced Web Openings

A numerical investigation on steel I-beams with reinforced web openings failing in flexural and shear using the commercial finite element software, ANSYS is presented and discussed in this paper. Web openings in steel beams are of various shapes like hexagonal, circular, rectangular and octagonal, which they are prepared from standard hot rolled steel I section. The main benefit of these members is to monitor service ducts through the openings as well as cost saving by economic use of material. The existence of the web openings deviates the beam failure behaviour around the openings over the parent beam. The additional failure modes named as Vierendeel mechanism along with regular failure modes like local buckling of web and flange, lateral torsional bucking, shear buckling, etc. comes into existence. The present study emphasizes on improving the performance of the steel beam with reinforced web openings. All the models of specimens have been fabricated from an original I section. The parametric investigation shows that reinforced web opening beams by adding high strength steel stiffeners around the web opening was very much effective. As compared to original I section beam, there is a 30% increase in the ultimate strength capacity of web expanded beams. The failure modes found to be similar both in with and without reinforcement around the openings.