Shear capacity of steel plate girders with large web openings, Part II: Design guidelines

The present design procedure for the shear capacity of steel girders with large web openings is based on the shear buckling capacity of webs, as given by Eurocode 3, modified to account for the effect of the openings by means of reduction factors determined on the basis of numerical simulations. Guidelines are given for the use of the design procedure in practical design. Equations for determination of the secondary effects are presented, as well as some cut-off factors which limit the shear capacity for certain opening configurations. Requirements for design of welds are also given. Further, the paper presents equations for shear and primary moment interaction. Finally, two design examples illustrate the features of the guidelines in practical design of girders with openings.