Patch loading resistance prediction of plate girders with multiple longitudinal stiffeners using machine learning

This paper is aimed at investigating the effect of multiple longitudinal stiffeners on the patch loading resistance of slender steel plate girders. Firstly, a numerical study is conducted through geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis with imperfections included (GMNIA), the model is validated with experimental results taken from the literature. The structural responses of girders with multiple longitudinal stiffeners are compared to the one of girders with a single longitudinal stiffener. Thereafter, a patch loading resistance model is developed through machine learning (ML) using symbolic regression (SR). An extensive numerical dataset covering a wide range of bridge girder geometries is employed to fit the resistance model using SR. Finally, the performance of the SR prediction model is evaluated by comparison of the resistances predicted using available formulae from the literature.