Proc. ISCAS'07; Beale, R.G. (Ed.) ©2007, Oxford Brookes University Strength of sinusoidally corrugated web beams with web openings Guven KIYMAZ, Assistant Professor, Istanbul Kultur University, stanbul, Turkey Erdal COSKUN, Assistant Professor, Istanbul Kultur University, stanbul, Turkey Cumhur COSGUN, Research Assistant, Istanbul Kultur University, stanbul, Turkey Edip SECKIN, Research Assistant, Istanbul Kultur University, stanbul, Turkey Abstract Creating openings in the webs of steel I-section beams has been a common method of incorporating services within the floor–ceiling zone of buildings. In the literature, the web opening problem was dealt with only for steel beams with plane web plates and the effect of an opening on a corrugated web was not considered. The present paper deals mainly with the effect of web openings on the shear strength/stability of sinusoidally corrugated web beams. A general purpose finite element program (ABAQUS) was used. Simply supported corrugated web beams of 2m length and with rectangular web openings at quarter span points were considered. These points are generally considered to be the optimum locations of web openings for steel beams. Various cases were analyzed including the dimensions of the openings and the corrugation parameters such as the amplitude of the sine wave and corrugation density. Models without web holes were also analyzed and compared with other cases which were all together examined in terms of load-deformation characteristics and ultimate shear resistance. Introduction Steel corrugated web beams are fabricated girders with a thin-walled, corrugated web and wide steel plate flanges. Owing to its profiled form, corrugated web exhibits an enhanced shear stability and hence eliminate the need for transverse stiffeners or thicker web plates. In this respect, it is an innovative design where the amount of web material is optimized through the inherent stability provided by profiling of the web. Studies on the behaviour of beams and girders with corrugated webs were conducted by researchers mainly in the United States, Europe and Japan. In these regions of the world, these beams have also been manufactured and exploited both in building and bridge constructions. Using web openings in steel floor beams results in simplified layout and installation of building services. In addition, the overall depth of the floor construction zone is reduced accordingly. The size and shape of a web opening may differ according to the sizes and shapes of e.g. water pipes or air ducts used. Dimensions of up to 75% of the floor depth may be required for increasing installation sizes [2]. The effect of the presence of web openings on the load carrying capacity of steel beams with flat web plates has been studied by a number of researchers. Based on the results of these studies a number of design recommendations were prepared which are now available in the literature for both steel and composite beams [3-7].