Estudio comparativo de la deflexión de una viga de alma abierta con diferentes cuantías de acero

Abstract

This study focuses on the analysis of the behavior of Joist-type open web beams with different amounts of steel, evaluating their stiffness and deflection under distributed loads. The beams, fabricated in ASTM A36 structural steel, were subjected to experimental tests and computational simulations to determine how the variation in the amount of steel influences their structural performance. The results showed that a higher amount of steel significantly reduces the deflection and increases the stiffness of the beams, which is consistent with structural design theory. The research also revealed significant variability in deflection under high loads, attributed to factors such as imperfections in fabrication, differences in material properties, and the configuration of diagonal and chord elements. These findings have important implications for the design of steel structures, suggesting that, in applications with high loads, it is advisable to use beams with a greater amount of steel to ensure lower deflection and greater safety. The study highlights the importance of more detailed analysis and testing to reduce variability and optimize the design of open web beams. The results provide a sol id basis for future research, which could include the analysis of other factors such as beam geometry, load distribution and behavior under dynamic loads, with the aim of improving the efficiency and safety of these structures in practica! applications.