Effects of cladding ratio on shear resistance of stainless-clad bimetallic steel plate girder: Numerical analyses and design recommendations

The cladding ratio brings noteworthy influence on the monotonic stress-strain properties of stainless-clad bimetallic steel (SBS), which obviously influences the resistance capacity of SBS plate girders. This study aimed to propose a design recommendation for the ultimate capacity of SBS plate girders through considering the impact of cladding ratio. The shear resistant performance of SBS plate girders at different cladding ratios was investigated through a series of numerical analyses, and 300 numerical models were included. A numerical modelling method on the SBS plate girder was suggested, which was verified by the test results of titanium-clad bimetallic steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminium alloy plate girders. A parametric study considering a/hw, hw/tw, and the cladding ratio was performed, where the suggested finite element modelling method was used. The influences of the key parameters on the resistance curve of the SBS plate girder under shear were clarified. The serviceability resistant stiffness and failure mode of SBS plate girders with different key parameters were explored. An approximately negative linear relationship between the cladding ratio and ultimate shear capacity appeared when the dimensions of the SBS plate girder remained the same. Based on parametric study results, the coefficients in the European deign method were determined, where the effects of the cladding ratio were considered. The suggested predictive equations for the SBS plate girders with cladding ratios in the range of 0-0.9 were the vital supplements to the design approaches of the SBS component.