Numerical and Analytical Modelling of Hat-Section Web Crippling Behaviour

Hat-sections, if subjected to a large concentrated load and a small bending moment at an interior support, can fail by two different mechanisms: the yield-arc and the rolling mechanisms. Research indicated that the hat-section's corner radius has a strong influence on the failure mechanism to occur [1,2]. Small strips of the hat-section cross-sections can be used to gather insight into the differences of the two failure mechanisms. For small corner radii, strip behaviour and section behaviour are comparable. For large corner radii, this is not the case. An analytical model and a finite element model have been developed to study the behaviour of the strips. Except for the largest corner radius, the analytical model and finite element model give comparable results.