Comparisons of the Computed and Measured Behavior of Curved Steel I-Girders during Lifting

The stability of I-girders during erection can be difficult to assess because of the limited presence of bracing and uncertainty in the support conditions of the girders. The behavior of curved girders during the early stages of construction is complicated because the curved geometry can lead to significant torsion. This paper highlights results from a research study that included both field monitoring and parametric finite-element investigations. Curved I-shaped girders were instrumented and monitored during lifting to provide data to validate finite-element models. Both rotational displacements and stress were measured during the lifting process. In this paper, the writers compare data collected from field tests with results computed from detailed finite-element simulations. A prismatic and a nonprismatic girder (with two different cross sections) were considered in the investigation. The I-girders experienced both rigid body rotation and cross-sectional twist. Additionally, the torsional warping stresses were observed to be of the same order of magnitude as the strong-axis bending stresses. However, it should be noted that the total stresses were well below yielding. The fact that the stresses are low during lifting should not be confused with a noncritical stage in the safety of the girders. Although the applied stresses are low, the stresses necessary to buckle the girder or to cause large deformations are also relatively low because usually no bracing exists and limited restraint is provided to the girders during lifting. The finite-element models were able to capture the measured behavior accurately, providing insight into appropriate assumptions and critical features for modeling curved I-girders during lifting.