Cellular Beam Design Software
Castellated and Cellular Beams Open approach to building design for improved cost and performance. CELLULAR BEAMS DESIGN GUIDEMARCH 2003 Introduction CELLULAR BEAMS Patented Cellular beams have proved to be one of the most signifi.
Currently, with the advancement of welding and cutting technology, steel profiles with circular openings, called cellular profiles, have become widely used as beams. The ABNT NBR 8800:2008 and international standards do not address cellular steel beams and cellular composite steel and concrete beams, which contributes to their limited use. A computer program was developed and validated for the design of cellular composite steel and concrete simply supported beams based on two different methods from the literature.
The use of this computational tool made possible a parametric study comprising cellular composite beams obtained from two different rolled steel I sections. In this study, the influence of the geometric parameters of the cellular profile and the influence of beam span in the strength and in the failure mode was analyzed. It was concluded that in many situations the use of composite cellular beams is advantageous in relation to original composite beams. Keywords: cellular composite steel and concrete beams; cellular beams; design. Figure 2: Fabrication of cellular beams The search for a rational use of resources in the design of structural steel buildings often induces the choice of solutions that facilitate the integration of services with the structure. Accordingly, the design of steel beams with web openings for the passage of service ducts have been increasingly demanded.
Cellular beams are quite used as they allow the passage of ducts through the openings, by integrating the facilities with the floor system, reducing the vertical space required per floor. The cellular beam has represented a highly competitive solution. One of its great advantages is that with virtually the same amount of steel as the original beam, a much higher moment strength can be achieved, due the increased height of the cross section, making it possible to overcome longer spans, which will reduce the numbers of columns resulting in a lower cost and greater speed of erection. Even from an economic point of view, manufacturing operations have relatively little cost, and are compensated by increased load capacity and stiffness. In contrast to the advantages, the beams have reduced capacity to shear, which may require reinforcement of the web, generating significant cost. They are still inefficient in resisting the stresses resulting from localized forces, being more suitable for large spans subjected to small loads. Cellular beams can be designed as composite when there is a shear connection between the steel and the concrete slab, thus being able to overcome even greater spans than the conventional composite beam, due to the increased stiffness provided by the geometry of the cellular beam.
Cellular beams are not used to their full potential for not being included in the national steel structure design standard, ABNT NBR 8800: 2008 and also because they are unknown to most designers. This paper aims at the development of a computer program with the methods of Ward and Lawson and Hicks for the design of cellular composite steel and concrete beams, to analyze the influence of the cellular beam geometry on the ultimate load and failure mode of a series of cellular composite beams, constituted from the connection between the cellular steel profile and the composite slab. Additionally, the results obtained from the computer program for each method are compared with each other and with experimental results from the literature. 1.2.1 Formation of Vierendeel mechanism The presence of shear forces of high magnitudes on the beam implies the formation of the Vierendeel mechanism. The formation of plastic hinges occurs at the corners of the openings, deforming the beam in the manner of a parallelogram. This mechanism is more likely to develop in the beams with short spans, shallow tee-section and long weld between two openings.
The failure will occur at the opening with the maximum shear force. In the case of openings with the same shear force, this failure will occur at the opening with the greatest bending moment. 1.2.5 Web post buckling due to shear The shear force V WP , acting along the welded joint stress the web post in bending, causing tensile stress on contour AB and compression on the contour CD. In the web post buckling due to shear the compressed part tends to move away from the longitudinal plane of the section while the tensioned part tends to remain in the starting position. According to Kerdal and Nethercot , this failure mode normally occurs in inelastic regime with a significant yielding of the sections. 1.3 Methodologies for the design of cellular composite steel and concrete beams In this research were used two methods for the design of cellular composite steel and concrete beams, extracted from Ward and Lawson and Hicks design guides.
Both design guides use the prescriptions of European standards when referring to limit states and design resistances already established. The formulations of the cited methods were adapted to meet the criteria of the ABNT NBR 8800: 2008. Items 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 briefly describe the design strength for each ultimate limit state approached by these methods. Where A w is the sum of the areas of the upper and lower tee webs, ƒy is the yield strength of steel and γ a1 is the resistance factor of steel cross sections, equal to 1.10.
For composite steel and concrete slabs, the shear force strength per unit length must be obtained according to the ABNT NBR 8800: 2008. For solid reinforced concrete slabs, the ABNT NBR 6118: 2014 is used for the calculation of this shear strength. In both cases, the value of the shear force strength per unit length is multiplied by an effective width, b w, given by b w = b ƒ+2 h t,ef, where b ƒ is the flange width of the steel section and h t,ef is the effective depth of the slab.
Regardless of the use of steel deck, the effective depth of the slab can be considered as 75% of its total depth (0.75 h t). 1.3.1.2 Moment strength at an opening There are two different situations to determinate the plastic moment strength. In the first case it is assumed that the plastic neutral axis is in the slab, while in the second its location is admitted in the top tee of the steel section. When the plastic neutral axis is in the slab, the moment strength is given by: When the plastic neutral axis is in the top tee of the steel section, the moment strength is defined as: where N bT,Rd is the axial force in the bottom tee, h ef is the effective depth of the beam between the centroids of the tees, h t is the slab depth, Z T is the depth of the centroid of the top tee from the outer edge of the flange, Z C is the depth of concrete in compression e N c,Rd is the compression strength of the concrete slab. 1.3.1.3 Vierendeel mechanism The Vierendeel moment strength is the sum of the Vierendeel moment strengths at the four corners of the opening, with the contribution due to local composite action between the top tee and the slab. The Vierendeel moment strength must be greater than the design value of the difference in bending moment, due to shear force, at the left and right of the effective length of the opening, as given by: where M b,NV,Rd is the reduced moment strength of the bottom tee for the presence of shear and axial tension, M t,NV,Rd is the reduced moment strength of the top tee for the presence of shear and axial tension, M vc,Rd is the moment strength due to local composite action between the top tee and the slab.
The V Sd value is the design vertical shear force taken as the value at the lower moment side of the opening. For circular openings, the calculation method provides an equivalent rectangular opening, where its height is designated as h eo = 0.9 d 0 and its effective length is given by l e = 0.45 d 0, on which d 0 is the diameter of the openings. 1.3.2.2 Moment strength at an opening The moment strength of a cellular composite beam can be determined using a plastic stress distribution similar to that described in ABNT NBR 8800:2008 for solid composite beams under positive bending moment and full shear connection. In case of partial shear connection, the bending resistance of the cellular composite beam is given by: where M el is the elastic moment of the steel section (both tees), Ƞ i is the shear connection degree and M pl is the plastic moment of the composite beam for full shear connection. 1.3.2.3 Vierendeel mechanism The Vierendeel mechanism occurs due the formation of a plastic hinge at a certain angle of the circular opening, at an associated section called critical section.
The interaction of secondary moments and axial forces, due to the transfer of shear and local axial force (caused by bending of the beam) through the opening is verified using the following equation: where N` e M` are forces on the critical section, N` Rd is the product of the area of critical section by the yield strength of steel, ƒ y, and M pl is the plastic moment in the critical section for plastic sections and equal to the elastic moment for other sections. 1.3.2.5 Web post flexural and buckling strength The web post strength is governed by two modes of collapse: flexural failure, caused by the formation of a plastic hinge, and buckling. The failure mode depends on the web thickness and the ratio s/ d o (spacing of adjacent openings/diameter of openings). After a series of non-linear finite element analysis, design curves were computed for the web post, which resulted in the following verification equation: where M max is the maximum allowable moment at the section A-A of, M e is the elastic moment at the section A-A of and C 1, C 2 and C 3 are constants defined according to the diameter of openings and web thickness. 2.1 About the program The computer program for the design of composite cellular steel and concrete beams, called DIMCEL, was developed in MATLAB (2010) addressing the Lawson and Hicks and Ward methods.
The program designs simply supported beams with composite steel and concrete sections composed of symmetrical cellular sections, without web stiffeners and unfilled openings. Also allows the design of steel cellular beams, i. E., without considering the contribution of the concrete slab, but considers continuous lateral restraint. Therefore, both types of construction can be analyzed: unpropped construction and propped construction. In the case of unpropped construction, just perform additional verification of the steel cellular beam subject only to construction loads.
Two types of concrete slabs are considered for the composite beam: solid concrete slab and composite steel and concrete slab. For shear connections, are addressed only stud shear connectors. The loads can be distributed along the length of the beam or concentrated at pre-established locations by the user. 2.2 Program validation For the program validation, were selected two numerical examples from the literature. Oliveira´s example was used to validate the method of Lawson and Hicks and Ward's method was validated with the example contained in his own guide. Oliveira´s example corresponds to a cellular composite steel and concrete simply supported beam.
The geometrical characteristics of the composite beam are shown in. The cellular beam was obtained from an IPE 550 section. The steel is S235. Before the concrete cure the beam self weight is 7.35 kN/m, after the cure the self weight is 7.11 kN/m, permanent load is 3 kN/m and the imposed load is 15 kN/m. The compressive strength of the concrete is 30 MPa. The beam spacing is 2 m.
Stud shear connectors were used with a diameter of 19 mm and two connectors per trough. Figure 6: Geometrical characteristics of the cellular composite beam from Oliveira (dimensions in millimeters) The Ward's example corresponds to a cellular composite steel and concrete simply supported beam. The geometrical characteristics of the composite beam are shown in. The cellular beam was obtained from an UB 457x67 section. The steel is S355.
Before the concrete cure the beam self weight is 2.38 kN/m², after the cure the self weight is 2.24 kN/m², the permanent load is 0.5 kN/m² and the imposed load is 6 kN/m². The compressive strength of concrete is 30 MPa. The beam spacing is 3 m. Stud shear connectors were used with a diameter of 19 mm and one connector per trough. Figure 7: Geometrical characteristics of the cellular composite beam from Ward (dimensions in millimeters) compares the results of the program with the numerical example of Oliveira , which addresses the Lawson and Hicks method and compares the results of the program with Ward´s method. The program validation was proven because it was found that the percentage differences between program results and numerical examples are due exclusively to the adopted normative criteria, since the program uses ABNT NBR 8800: 2008 while the examples have been resolved in accordance with European standards. 2.3.1 Nadjai et al.
10 test The cellular composite steel and concrete beam, denominated Ulster Beam A1, was tested by Nadjai et al. and corresponds to a simply supported beam with concentrated loads applied at two points. In, the geometric characteristics of the experimental model are presented: span between supports of 4500 mm, expanded depth equal to 575 mm, diameter of the openings equal to 375 mm and spacing of adjacent openings of 500 mm. The steel cellular beam was fabricated from an UB 406×140×39 section.
The steel is S355. Figure 8: Geometrical characteristics of the Ulster Beam A1 (dimensions in millimeters) The composite steel and concrete slab has a width of 1200 mm and total depth of 150 mm, in which 99 is the depth of concrete above decking profile and 51 is the overall depth of decking profile, with normal density concrete. The concrete compressive strength was evaluated by three cubic samples during the test realization, which provided an average value of 35 MPa. The slab reinforcement consisted of welded wire mesh reinforcement A142 (bars with 7 mm diameter spaced every 200 mm) with yield strength of 500 MPa.
The ultimate limit state which led the Ulster Beam A1 to failure was the web post buckling. For comparison purposes, was calculated by the program the failure load related to that limit state by both methods, Lawson and Hicks and Ward.
From, it can be noted that both methods are safer and the method of Lawson and Hicks predicted the failure load related to the limit state in question more accurately. Results and discussions The parametric study of cellular composite beams was performed considering beams obtained from two I rolled section, W 310x32.7 and W 530x85.
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The study was realized to simply supported beams subjected to a uniformly distributed load, considering propped construction. The steel is ASTM A572 (Grade 50). The slab studied is composite steel and concrete with overall depth of decking profile equal to 75 mm, parallel to the beam span and composed of concrete with compressive strength of 30 MPa. The total height of the slab was 130 mm and the beam spacing was 3 m.
Stud shear connectors with 19 mm diameter were adopted. Initially, the number of connectors was calculated considering full interaction between steel and concrete for the solid composite beams that originated the studied cellular composite beams. The same number of shear connectors was adopted to the cellular composite beams. The Ward and Lawson and Hicks methods have different geometric limits for cellular beams. In this study, the geometric parameters of the beams have been defined according to the limits of both methods. And show respectively the parameters and the ratio L/d g (span length/expanded depth) adopted for the sections W 310x32.7 and W 530x85. The depth of the original solid beam was designated as d g, the diameter of the opening as d o and the spacing of adjacent openings as s.
Table 6: Geometric parameters adopted for the W 530x85 section Initially, the composite beams were calculated with the original solid steel section, to determine its ultimate load ( P VM) and the limit state associated with the failure. Then, the program here developed was used for the calculation of cellular composite beams and obtaining the ultimate load ( P VC). Thus, the percentage difference between the ultimate load of the cellular composite beam and the solid composite beam can be calculated as: If the percentage difference is less than zero, it means that the solid composite beam resists better to the applied load than the cellular composite beam, otherwise the cellular composite beam performs better. To determine the ultimate load for the solid and cellular beams, a routine was developed in the computer program which is able to increase the load value until it reaches the beam failure load, and then writing the value of the failure load and the failure mode in a spreadsheet. The verification of the ultimate limit states was realized considering all applied loads (permanent and imposed loads) multiplied by 1.4. To verify the serviceability limit state of excessive deflection, it was considered that 40% of the total load was permanent and, therefore, was used this portion of loading to calculate the long-term deflection. The imposed load was taken as 60% of the total load, for the determination of its short-term deflection.
3.2 Cellular composite beam designed by the Lawson and Hicks 4 method In the parametric study, the symbols for identification of the cellular composite beams were given by the designation: VC d g - d/ d g - d o/ d - s/ d o - L/ d g, where VC indicates cellular composite beam and the variables d g, d, d o, s and Lare the geometric parameters. For example, VC 310-1.3-0.6-1.3-10 means a cellular composite beam with 310 mm of depth of the original solid section, d g, the ratio between the expanded depth and the depth of the original section, d/ d g equal to 1.3, the ratio between the diameter of the opening and the expanded depth, d o/ d equal to 0.6, the ratio between the spacing of adjacent openings and the diameter of the opening, s/ d o, equal to 1.3 and the ratio between the beam span and depth of the original solid section equal to 10. Shows the cellular composite beams obtained from a W 310x32.7 section that presented the best performance (higher resistance or lower deflection, depending on the governing limit state) in relation to the solid composite beam. The limit state that governed the design is mentioned in the table. Table 8: Ultimate load and associated limit state for cellular composite beams obtained from a W 310x32.7 section At, it can be noted that the use of cellular composite beams obtained from the W 310x32.7 section is advantageous for L/ d g ratio equal or greater than 25, when the limit state of the solid composite beam is governed by the excessive deflection and, thus, the services stresses are relatively low. It can also be noticed that the most adequate geometry for the cellular composite beams in this case is that with expanded depth equal to 1.5 times the depth of the original section, diameter of openings equal to 0.73 times the expanded depth and spacing of adjacent openings equal to 1.3 times the diameter of the openings.
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Shows the cellular composite beams obtained from a W 530x85 section that presented the best performance in relation to the solid composite beam. The limit state that governed the design is mentioned in the table. Table 9: Ultimate load and associated limit state for cellular composite beams obtained from a W 530x85 section At, it can be noted that the use of cellular composite beams obtained from a W 530x85 section is advantageous for L/ d g ratio equal or greater than 20. It can also be noticed that the most adequate geometry for the cellular composite beams in this case is that with expanded depth equal to 1.5 times the depth of the original section, diameter of openings equal to 0.73 times the expanded depth and spacing of adjacent openings equal to 1.3 times the diameter of the openings. The analysis of the and also shows a greater economic advantage in the use of cellular composite beams with greater depth, since the percentage difference between the ultimate load of the cellular composite beam and the solid cellular beam, d, is greater for W 530x85 section for all L/ d gratios. Also, it is noted that the higher the L/ d g ratio, the greater the percentage difference, reaching more than 100% for the VC 530-1.6-0.8-1.3-35 and VC 530-1.6-0.8-1.3-40 beams, i.e., these beams have more than the double of the ultimate load of its corresponding solid-composite beams for the L/ d g ratios equal to 35 and 40.
Shows the relation between the geometry of the cellular composite beam obtained from a W 310x32.7 section and the failure modes. It can be noted that yielding due to longitudinal shear occurs in small to medium spans ( L/ d g equal to 10, 15 and 20) in beams with a small width of the web post, or in cases where the s/ d o ratio is less than 1.4 and the d o/ d g ratio is less than 0.63. The Vierendeel mechanism governed the design in cases of small to medium spans ( L/ d gequal to 10, 15 and 20), and the d o/ d g ratio equal to 0.8, that is, when the width of the web post was larger.
For medium spans ( L/ d g equal to 20 and 25), the web post buckling was predominant only for higher values of the expanded depth, i.e., d/ d gratio equal to 1.5 to 1.57. For large spans ( L/ d g equal to 30, 35 and 40), the critical limit states were yielding due to bending and excessive deflection.
However, the excessive deflection did not occur for L/ d g ratio equal to 30. Table 10: Relation between the geometry of the cellular composite beam obtained from a W 310x32.7 section and the failure modes shows the relation between the geometry of the cellular composite beam obtained from a W 530x85 section and the failure modes. It can be noted that yielding due to longitudinal shear occurs in small to medium spans ( L/ d g equal to 10, 15 and 20) in beams with a small width of the web post, or in cases where the s/ d o ratio is less than 1.4 and the d o/ d g ratio is less than 0.63. The Vierendeel mechanism governed the design in cases of small to medium spans ( L/ d gequal to 10, 15 and 20), and the d o/ d g ratio equal to 0.8, that is, when the width of the web post was larger.
The web post buckling occurs in small to large spans ( L/ d g equal to 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30), principally in beams with larger values of expanded depth, ie, d/ d g ratio greater than or equal 1.5. Yielding due to bending governed the design, mainly, in medium spans ( L/ d g equal to 25), in beams with lower values of expanded depth, i.e., d/ d g ratio less than 1.5, and d o/ d ratio greater than 0.63.
For large spans ( L/ d g equal to 35 and 40) the limit state of excessive deflection always governed the design. Table 12: Ultimate load and associated limit state for cellular composite beams obtained from a W 310x32.7 section At, it can be noted that the use of cellular composite beams obtained from a W 310x32.7 section is advantageous for L/ d g ratio equal or greater than 25. It can also be noticed that the most adequate geometry for the cellular composite beams in this case is that with expanded depth equal to 1.5 or 1.57 times the depth of the original section, diameter of openings ranging from 0.73 to 0.8 times the expanded depth and spacing of adjacent openings equal to 1.3 times the diameter of the openings. Shows the cellular composite beams obtained from a W 530x85 section that showed the best performance in relation to the solid composite beams. The limit state that governed the design is mentioned in the table. Table 13: Ultimate load and associated limit state for cellular composite beams obtained from a W 530x85 section At, it can be noted that the use of cellular composite beams obtained from a W 530x85 section is advantageous for L/ d g ratio equal or greater than 20.
It can also be noticed that the most adequate geometry for the cellular composite beams in this case is that with expanded depth ranging from 1.3 to 1.5 times the depth of the original section, diameter of openings ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 times the expanded depth and spacing of adjacent openings ranging from 1.3 to 1.5 times the diameter of the openings. The analysis of and also shows a greater economic advantage in the use of cellular composite beams with greater depth, since the percentage difference between the ultimate load of cellular composite beam and the solid cellular beam, d, is greater for the W 530x85 section for all L/ d g ratios.
Also, it is noted that the higher the L/ d g ratio, the greater the percentage difference, reaching more than 50% for the VC 530-1.6-0.8-1.3-35 and VC 530-1.6-0.8-1.3-40 beams. Shows the relation between the geometry of the cellular composite beam obtained from a W 310x32.7 section and the failure modes. It can be noted that the web post bending and buckling occurs in small to medium spans ( L/ d g equal to 10, 15, 20 and 25) in beams with a small width of the web post, or in cases where the s/ d o ratio is less than 1.4 and the d o/ d g ratio is less than 0.63. The Vierendeel mechanism governed the design in cases of small to large spans ( L/ d gequal to 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30), and the d o/ d g ratio equal to 0.8, that is, when the width of the web post was larger. For large spans ( L/ d g equal to 30, 35 and 40), the critical limit states was the excessive deflection. Table 14: Relation between the geometry of the cellular composite beam obtained from a W 310x32.7 section and the failure modes shows the relation between the geometry of the cellular composite beam obtained from a W 530x85 section and the failure modes.
It can be noted that the web post bending and buckling occurs in small to medium spans ( L/ d g equal to 10, 15 and 20) in beams with a small width of the web post, or in cases where the s/ d o ratio is less than 1.4 and the d o/ d g ratio is less than 0.73. The Vierendeel mechanism governed the design in cases of small to large spans ( L/ d gequal to 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30), and the d o/ d g ratio equal to 0.8, that is, when the width of the web post was larger. For large spans ( L/ d g equal to 30, 35 and 40), the critical limit states was the excessive deflection. Both methods showed that the use of cellular composite beams is advantageous when the L/ d ratio is greater or equal to 20. This was expected, since in these cases, what governs design of solid composite beams is excessive deflection and the cellular beams present higher moment of inertia.