Experimental evaluation of the behaviour of a mild steel box girder under bending moment

Abstract

An experimental evaluation of a mild steel box girder subjected to a pure bending moment is presented. The moment–curvature curves are presented allowing for the analysis of elastic–plastic behaviour until collapse, the evaluation of the ultimate bending moment and post-collapse behaviour. The residual stress relief during loading and unloading path is also analysed. The results are compared with a test on a similar box girder made of high-tensile steel. The effects of residual stresses on the behaviour of the box girder are analysed using a progressive collapse method for structures under longitudinal bending moment.