Abstract

The effects of opening parameters on the bending behavior of fixed open-web steel beams under static loading were experimentally investigated using six specimens of different opening length-to-height ratios, area ratios, and distributions. The experimentally obtained failure modes, bearing capacities, and load-displacement curves of the specimens were compared with those extracted from numerical simulations performed via Abaqus finite element analysis software. The results revealed the following: (i) The typical failure mode of the fixed open-web steel beams was plastic failure at the opening corners in the shear-bending sections, with compressive corners experiencing flexion and tensile corners experiencing tearing. (ii) For a given opening area ratio and opening height-to-beam height ratios, decreasing the opening length and increasing the number of openings significantly increased the bearing capacity of the open-web beam (by more than one-fold) when the openings were appropriately configured, compared with beams with a small number of large openings. (iii) Increasing the opening height and length had similar effects on the bending behavior of the open-web beam.