Progressive Collapse Analyses of Stiffened Box- Girders Submitted to Pure Bending

Two of the most distinctive contemporary approaches for determination of the ultimate bending load capacity of the stiffened thin-walled structures are: geometrically and materially nonlinear finite element method and various incremental-iterative methods based on Smith’s approach. While the nonlinear finite element analysis method can be considered as the most comprehensive and potentially the most accurate available approach, the methods based on Smith’s approach are prescribed by many classification societies (and their associations) and can be considered as the most widespread and most utilized among currently employed progressive collapse analysis methods. Results obtained by both methods are benchmarked against the results of experimental testing of various stiffened box girders submitted to extreme pure bending. Within context of the considered problem, the influence of various relevant aspects of the employed methods is evaluated and critically discussed, considering both levels (global and local) of structural response