Strength of I-Girders with Narrow Panels Subjected to Concentrated Loads

This technical note deals with the strength of web panels under concentrated loads, with emphasis on girders with closely spaced transverse stiffeners (commonly referred to as narrow panels). A review of experimental data and data from simulations suggest that girders with closely spaced panels exhibit substantially higher strength to concentrated loads than that calculated in accordance with the AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC, 2016). A simple equation to account for a fraction of the excess in strength is proposed.