Numerical analysis of shear buckling and axial forces in transverse web stiffeners of steel plate girders

Steel plate girders are widely utilised in steel bridges and long‐span buildings due to their versatility and strength‐to‐weight ratio. However, the slender web panels of such girders are susceptible to buckling under shear forces. To mitigate this, intermediate transverse stiffeners are commonly employed, serving primarily to restrain out‐of‐plane web deformations and increase post‐buckling resistance. Experimental investigations involving 10 plate girder specimens with varying web aspect ratios and stiffener configurations revealed that the measured forces in intermediate stiffeners were, on average, only 50 % of those prescribed by EN 1993‐1‐5 for design proposes. To build upon these findings, a complementary numerical study was conducted using finite element models calibrated against the experimental results. The simulations incorporated initial geometric imperfections, residual stresses and material nonlinearity. Calibration was achieved through comparison of load–displacement behaviour, internal stiffener forces and ultimate shear resistance. The numerical analyses offered further insight into the formation and spacing of plastic hinges in the compression flange and support the refinement of current design provisions for steel plate girders, promoting greater accuracy and efficiency in structural design.