EQUILIBRIUM SOLUTION FOR PREDICTING THE STRENGTH OF WEBS WITH RECTANGU -LAR HOLES.

An equilibrium solution for predicting the ultimate capacity of plate girders have rectangular cut-outs is presented and is based on the post-buckled strengths of webs in shear. Ultimate strength tests on thin-walled webs containing a rectangular cut-out are also presented. The parameters varied included the plate-aspect ratio, web slenderness and the size of the hole. Theoretical predictions obtained by the proposed analytical method are compared with the tests results, and found to be safe and satisfactory. (Author/TRRL)