Geometric & Material Nonlinear Analysis of a Steel Beam FEA with MIDAS GEN

At Gorman Civil Engineering, we recently conducted a comprehensive Nonlinear Plastic Finite Element Analysis to illustrate the critical role of stiffeners in preventing local buckling and influencing stress distribution significantly. The focus was on a beam structure where the left side of the beams were supported/contacted up to a certain distance. By applying an incremental force to the opposite tip, we observed deformation, yielding, and the transition into plastic behaviour.

On the left side, the model lacked stiffeners, while on the right side, we integrated two stiffeners in the supported/contacted region. The results were impressive.

Stiffeners, as demonstrated by our analysis, play a crucial role in reinforcing a structure, ensuring it can withstand the forces it may encounter during its operational life.