Xponexus Engineering

Steel Plate Girder Design & Optimization Tool

Comprehensive Eurocode EN 1993-1-5 / EN 1993-1-1 calculator for built-up plate girders covering bending resistance, shear buckling, stiffener layouts, M–V interaction, web crippling, and serviceability deflection.

Bending + Shear Buckling + Tension field Stiffeners ULS + SLS

SLS checks Tension field Charts

Scope note (important):
This is a preliminary/design-assist calculator intended to mirror common EN 1993-1-5 approaches with conservative simplifications for plate buckling, shear resistance, and stiffener recommendations. Always verify with full Eurocode clauses, National Annex provisions, and project-specific detailing requirements.

Material properties & partial factors

Steel grade auto-fills fy/fu. Adjust partial factors per National Annex.

Auto-fill

Steel grade Grade f_y (MPa) f_u (MPa) E (MPa) ν

Partial factors γ_M0 γ_M1 γ_G (ULS) γ_Q (ULS) ψ₀ (SLS)

Design selections Load combination Section class Fabrication category Target utilisation (%)

Girder geometry

Built-up welded I-girder with symmetrical flanges.

Span & web Span length L (m) Web depth h_w (mm) Web thickness t_w (mm) Panel length a (mm)

Flanges Flange width b_f (mm) Flange thickness t_f (mm) Compression flange restraint Buckling length L_b (m)

Serviceability Deflection limit L/ Camber (mm) Self-weight include? Density (kN/m³)

Loading

Define uniform and point loads. Point loads assumed mid-span.

ULS + SLS

Uniform loads Dead load g_k (kN/m) Live load q_k (kN/m) Crane load (optional) (kN/m) Load factor override

Point loads (mid-span) Point load P_k (kN) Dynamic factor Number of point loads Impact combo (ULS)

Design combination output Design uniform load w (kN/m) Design point load P (kN) Support reaction R (kN) Max moment M_Ed (kNm)

Buckling & stiffeners

Shear buckling parameters, tension field action, and stiffener layout.

Shear buckling parameters Shear buckling coefficient k_τ Tension field action Panel aspect a/h_w Imperfection factor

Stiffener layout Transverse stiffener spacing a (mm) Longitudinal stiffener Longitudinal stiffener position (0-1) Web bearing length (mm)

Optimization targets Max web slenderness h_w/t_w Max flange slenderness b_f/t_f Target shear utilisation (%) Target deflection ratio L/

Check summary

ULS + SLS + Buckling

Bending resistance

Shear buckling

M–V interaction

Web crippling

Deflection

Stiffeners

Utilisation ratios

Action effects

Fabrication-ready report

Calculated geometry, resistances, and recommended sizes/stiffener spacing.