Effect of Diaphragms on Shear Lag in Steel Box Girders

This paper reports a study of the effects of steel plate diaphragms on shear lag in steel box girders within the elastic range of material property and without including the effect of plate buckling. STAAD.Pro program had been utilized to evaluate and determine top flange stress distribution and the actual effective flanges width in steel box girders with or without diaphragms. Shell elements had been used to model the flanges, webs, and diaphragms. Different numbers, thickness and types for the plate diaphragms have been used to determine their effects on the shear lag in the flange. Using diaphragms had affected slightly shear lag. The diaphragms number affected obviously the shear lag in the top flange, especially the magnitude of maximum top flange longitudinal stresses