Influence of curved flange-to-web connection on the transverse load resistance of extruded or hot-rolled I girders

In case of hot-rolled or extruded profiles, the fillet corner shaping of the flange-to-web connection may highly increase the transverse load resistance. Real test illustrates the proneness of compact aluminium profiles to web crippling and the influence of the curved corner. Numerical model is developed and validated by the real test. Invoking non-linear numerical analysis, parametric study on simply supported girders subjected to interaction of transverse load and bending confirms the beneficial influence of the curved corners. Based on the results the author proposes a modification in the Eurocode formulation. The simulation results prove the validity of the proposed method.