Experimental and Numerical Tests on Beams with Web Openings Under Cyclic Loading

The aim of this study is to increase the load–displacement capacities of beams with web openings exposed to cyclic loading, to reduce the distortion in rigidity and to design high-strength beams with web holes designed according to BS 5950 specifications. The tests were carried out on five 2400 mm long, non-composite IPE240 cross-section beams. The ratio of the beam height to the diameter of the web opening is determined according to the BS 5950 specifications: for the beam with the ratio of 1.25 (lower limit) the diameter of the opening is 192 mm, for the beam with the ratio of 1.75 (upper limit) the diameter of the opening is 137 mm, for the beam with the ratio of 1.5 the diameter of the opening is 160 mm, and for the beam with the ratio of 1.618 the diameter of the opening is 148 mm. The beam with a ratio of body height to opening diameter of 1.618 (Golden Ratio) was compared with the perfect model and other beams with different opening diameters. According to the BS 5950 specification, when the ratio of beam height to circle diameter reaches 1.618, the opening diameter in the beam web exceeds the upper limit. However, in the beams examined in this study that exceed the upper limit of the specification, it was found that the beams carried 11.62% more moment and 11.63% more load, and their energy absorption capacity increased by 22.19%. In addition, the decrease in the moment bearing capacity, load bearing capacity and energy absorption capacity of the beam optimized with the golden ratio was determined as the optimization that shows the closest mechanical behavior to the perfect sample with a decrease of 20.65–24.1% and 4.12%, respectively. In this study, finite element analyses and experimental data were used to validate the experimental results of the designs and to examine the deformation modes and nonlinear behavior of the beams with web openings. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the mechanical properties of the beam subjected to cyclic loads and designed according to the golden ratio are closer to the perfect model.