PSI - Issue 70

Anil Pradeep Konda et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 70 (2025) 153–160

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introduces a series of regular web openings for functional and architectural purposes. The web openings of castellated beams enable the passage of services such as HVAC ducts, plumbing lines, and electrical conduits, thereby reducing the need for additional floor-to-floor height and eliminating complex service-routing requirements Estrada et al., (2006); Megharief, (1997); Wakchaure and Sagade, (2012). This efficient service routing facilitates faster and more economical installations and contributes to a lighter and more sustainable structure by reducing steel usage in other building elements Estrada et al., (2006). Compared to solid-web beams, castellated beams are susceptible to failure mechanisms such as Vierendeel action, web-post buckling and lateral-torsional buckling. The likelihood of these issues depends heavily on factors like the beam's slenderness, cut pattern, and loading conditions Megharief, (1997). Additionally, their performance under indeterminate structural systems becomes more complex, especially in negative moment regions where compression flanges are unbraced Gizejowski and Salah, (2011). Despite these concerns, their economic and serviceability advantages have led to widespread use in power plants, multistory buildings, and industrial structures. Structural engineers are increasingly required to address both safety and functional performance, and castellated beams offer a compelling solution by balancing structural efficiency, economy, and design versatility Wakchaure and Sagade, (2012). As Bauer (2021) aptly notes, the variability in the design of castellated beams provides flexibility in architectural design and contributes to stronger floors in buildings. 1.1. Literature Review Several researchers have contributed to the analytical and computational understanding of castellated beams, including Elaiwi, (2019); Knowles and BS 5950, (1991); Pachpor et al., (2011); Srimani and Das, (1978). Their work explored structural behaviour, including deflection characteristics, stress distribution, failure mechanisms such as lateral-torsional buckling, and the influence of geometric parameters like web opening shape and support conditions. Bauer (2021), Hadeed and Alshimmeri (2019), and Hosain and Spiers (1970) have provided valuable insights into the structural performance and failure mechanisms of castellated beams. Their studies, which combined experimental investigations, numerical modelling, and design analysis, explored the influence of geometry, material use, and reinforcement. The effect of stiffeners on the behaviour of castellated beams was explored by Anupriya and Jagadeesan (2013), and later by Kshirsagar and Parekar (2018). Their studies combined analytical and comparative methods and assessed the stiffners' effect on shear strength and deflection. While these efforts aimed at performance enhancement, other researchers focused on understanding the failure mechanisms inherent in castellated beams. Notably, Kerdal and Nethercot (1984) and Soltani et al. (2012) focused on identifying and analysing local and global failure modes. Their studies addressed Vierendeel action, web post-buckling, weld rupture, and broader instabilities like flexural yielding and lateral-torsional buckling. A related line of inquiry is composite castellated beams investigated by Megharief, (1997) and Gizejowski and Salah, (2011) to explore the behaviour with a focus on the effects of composite action on strength and stability. Their studies observed failure mechanisms such as web-post buckling and distortional buckling using a combination of experimental testing and refined numerical modelling. Together, they provided critical insight into how composite interaction modifies shear and flexural behaviour and emphasized the need to account for complex instability effects in both design and analysis. Beyond structural and material considerations, economic and design feasibility have also drawn scholarly attention. Estrada et al. (2006) analysed the cost-effectiveness of castellated beams in structural applications. Their study noted that these beams are economical in long-span projects and when used in large production volumes. Castellated beams offer a practical alternative in such scenarios compared to standard wide flange sections. In a separate study, after reviewing relevant literature, Morkhade and Gupta (2019) noted the absence of unified design guidelines, especially for beams with non-standard geometries or those subjected to combined loading scenarios such as fire or dynamic effects. Previous studies have focused on structural, analytical, and economic aspects of castellated girders. However, their damage assessment has received limited attention. This study addresses the need for further inquiry into the damage assessment of the castellated girders by examining their behaviour under single and multiple damage scenarios. It