A finite element analysis of deep beams with cutouts considering four supports

Using the finite element method, the biaxial stress distribution has been determined for a wide-flange deep beam, with rectangular cutouts placed at various locations, on four supports. An elastic plane state of stress is assumed for the web of the beam and an elastic uniaxial state of stress is assumed for the flanges. The influence that cutouts indeterminate supports have on the stress distribution in deep beams is illustrated by plotting the stress distribution, at several longitudinal locations, for the homogeneous beam and the beam with cutouts, on both determinate and indeterminate supports. Several convergence studies have been performed to determine the proper mesh sizes for the given problems.