Corus Special Profiles

Bulb flats
For plate stiffening

Introduction

Plate stiffening

2 Bulb flats

Introduction

Bulb flats are tailor made for plate

stiffening applications. Their special shape
provides significant benefits when
compared with other types of stiffener.

Corus Special Profiles is part

Customer service

of Corus, the international metals

Our priority at Special Profiles is

company.

staying close to the customer. Daily

contact is maintained through

Our business is a leading producer

Corus network of overseas offices

of bulb flat profiles. We have been

and agents.

supplying the shipbuilding and

bridge building industries for over

Bulb flats sales are co-ordinated

40 years from our rolling mill facility

from Corus Skinningrove sales

at Skinningrove, in the North East

office. A rolling guideline is regularly

of England. We are certified to

produced, providing details of when

ISO 9002.

each bulb flat size will be rolled and

despatched. An electronic version is

Bulb flats are tailor made for plate

also available on our website:

stiffening applications. Their special

www.corus-specialprofiles.com

shape provides significant benefits

compared with other types of

Customer service for bulb flats is

stiffener. Bulb flats provide benefits

co-ordinated from the Skinningrove

during the initial steel construction

office. The team at the mill utilises

phase, and also during the working

Corus shipping and distribution

life of a ship or other products on

organisation to meet customer

which they are used.

delivery requirements on a
world-wide basis.

Recognition of the advantages that

bulb flats provide is resulting in their
increased usage for shipbuilding and
bridge building.

Bulb flats

Shipbuilding

At Special Profiles, we recognise that reducing

building time and costs and minimising through life
costs during a vessels life are major issues.

Bulb flats offer many unique benefits

for achieving these objectives:

Bulb flats are easier and quicker

to clean in ballast tanks and

effective and efficient painting.

cargo holds. Material is less

They are ready to use plate

stiffeners. Compared with

The rounded profile of a bulb flat,

with no sharp corners, assists

likely to become trapped in

Bulb flats can also reduce

blind corners and require

welded or fabricated stiffeners,

coating material costs because

extended time in port for removal.

bulb flats are more cost effective.

they have a smaller surface area

This can dramatically reduce the

than other stiffeners with the

lifetime maintenance cost.

The unique shape of a bulb

same section modulus.

flat distributes steel to maximise

Access for inspection and

resistance to buckling. This

The advantages of bulb flats stretch

welding is easier, and the

results in a more efficient

beyond the initial building phase

compact shape of a bulb flat

strength to weight ratio compared

to provide benefits during the

also results in less welding,

with other stiffeners such as flat

working life of a ship. Their shape

if damaged profiles need to

bars or structural angles.

has inherent corrosion resistance

be replaced.

features, and they are more user

The compact shape of a bulb

friendly for repair and maintenance,

Please contact our sales office for

flat offers easy access for

compared with other stiffeners:

further information or a copy of our

welding and painting.

rolling guideline.

The curved surface of a bulb

The asymmetric bulb flat shape

flat is less likely to trap moisture

lends itself to simplified collar

or pollutants which can initiate

connection when compared to

corrosion.

alternative stiffeners such as Ts

and angles.

4 Bulb flats

Shipbuilding

Shipbuilding

Bulb flats

Bridge building

Recognition of the benefits which

The rounded shape of a bulb flat

bulb flats provide is resulting in

provides inherent corrosion

increased usage in bridges around

resistance features. It enhances

the world, both large and small.

drainage, and minimises dirt

The Jiangyin and resund bridges

and moisture traps.

are the most well known

developments in recent years

Corus offers advice to consultant

incorporating bulb flats.

engineers and designers on how to

incorporate bulb flats in bridges. We

The advantages that bulb flats offer

have conducted research in

assist both the initial construction

conjunction with Imperial College,

phase as well as the working life of

London and the Bridge Engineering

the bridge:

Division of the UK Department of the

Environment. This work investigated

Bulb flats can save weight

the buckling capacity of plate and

compared with flat bars and

bulb flat stiffener arrangements.

angles which offer equivalent

buckling resistance.

Please contact our sales office for

further information.

Bulb flats are more cost effective

than fabricated plate stiffeners.

Bulb flats reduce painting costs,

by having a smaller surface area
than other stiffener arrangements

The compact shape of a bulb

flat provides easy access for
welding, painting and inspection.

Bulb flats fulfil a range of applications in bridges,

such as stiffening of box girders and plate girders,
and stiffening of steel decks on small bridges.

6 Bulb flats

Bridge building

Bridge building
Bulb flats

Dimensions and properties

Dimensions and properties

Width

Thickness

b
[mm]

t
[mm]

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300

320

340

370

400

430

6
7
8
6.5
7
8
10
7
8
9
11.5
8
9
10
11.5
8.5
9
10
11
12
9
10
11
12
9.5
10
11
12
10
11
12
10.5
11
12
13
11
12
13
11.5
12
13
14
12
13
14
15
12.5
13
14
15
16
13
14
15
16
14
15
17
20

Mass per
Unit
Length
G
[kg/m]

Bulb
Height

Bulb
Width

Bulb
Radius

c
[mm]

d
[mm]

7.31
8.25
9.19
9.21
9.74
10.8
13.0
11.4
12.7
14.0
17.3
14.8
16.2
17.6
19.7
17.8
18.5
20.1
21.7
23.2
21.0
22.8
24.5
26.2
24.4
25.4
27.4
29.3
28.3
30.3
32.4
32.4
33.5
35.7
37.9
36.7
39.0
41.5
41.2
42.5
45.0
47.5
46.1
48.8
51.5
54.2
53.1
54.6
57.5
60.5
63.5
60.8
63.9
67.0
70.2
70.6
73.9
80.6
90.8

17
17
17
19
19
19
19
22
22
22
22
25
25
25
25
28
28
28
28
28
31
31
31
31
34
34
34
34
37
37
37
40
40
40
40
43
43
43
46
46
46
46
49
49
49
49
53.5
53.5
53.5
53.5
53.5
58
58
58
58
62.5
62.5
62.5
62.5

17.7
17.7
17.7
19.7
19.7
19.7
19.7
22.2
22.2
22.2
22.2
25.5
25.5
25.5
25.5
28.8
28.8
28.8
28.8
28.8
32.1
32.1
32.1
32.1
35.4
35.4
35.4
35.4
38.7
38.7
38.7
42.0
42.0
42.0
42.0
45.3
45.3
45.3
48.6
48.6
48.6
48.6
52.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
56.9
56.9
56.9
56.9
56.9
61.9
61.9
61.9
61.9
66.8
66.8
66.8
66.8

Additional sizes may be available by agreement:

80 & 100 DIN range

180, 200, 230 and 250 JIS range

* Values for H are taken about the line of attachment.

8 Bulb flats

Surface
Area

r
[mm]

Area of
crosssection
F
[cm2]

5
5
5
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.5
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
15
16.5
16.5
16.5
16.5
16.5
18
18
18
18
19.5
19.5
19.5
19.5

9.31
10.5
11.7
11.7
12.4
13.8
16.6
14.6
16.2
17.8
21.8
18.9
20.7
22.5
25.2
22.6
23.6
25.6
27.6
29.6
26.8
29.0
31.2
33.4
31.2
32.4
34.9
37.3
36.1
38.7
41.3
41.2
42.6
45.5
48.4
46.7
49.7
52.8
52.6
54.2
57.4
60.6
58.8
62.2
65.5
69.0
67.8
69.6
73.3
77.0
80.7
77.4
81.4
85.4
89.4
89.7
94.1
103.0
115.0

0.276
0.278
0.280
0.319
0.320
0.322
0.326
0.365
0.367
0.369
0.374
0.411
0.413
0.415
0.418
0.456
0.457
0.459
0.461
0.463
0.501
0.503
0.505
0.507
0.546
0.547
0.549
0.551
0.593
0.593
0.595
0.636
0.637
0.639
0.641
0.681
0.683
0.685
0.727
0.728
0.730
0.732
0.772
0.774
0.776
0.778
0.839
0.840
0.842
0.844
0.846
0.907
0.908
0.910
0.912
0.975
0.976
0.980
0.986

U
[m2/m]

Dimensions and properties

Distance of
Centre of Gravity
dx
[mm]

72.0
70.7
69.6
83.7
83.1
81.8
79.2
96.6
94.9
93.6
91.1
109
107
106
104
122
121
119
118
117
136
134
132
130
148
147
146
144
162
160
158
175
174
172
170
189
187
185
202
201
199
197
215
213
211
209
236
235
232
230
228
258
255
252
250
277
274
269
263

dy
[mm]

5.3
5.6
6.0
5.8
5.9
6.3
7.0
6.4
6.8
7.1
8.1
7.4
7.7
8.1
8.6
8.2
8.4
8.7
9.0
9.4
9.1
9.3
9.6
10.0
9.9
10.0
10.3
10.6
10.7
11.0
11.3
11.6
11.7
11.9
12.2
12.4
12.6
12.9
13.3
13.4
13.6
13.9
14.1
14.3
14.6
14.8
15.4
15.4
15.6
15.9
16.1
16.6
16.8
17.0
17.2
17.9
18.1
18.5
19.3

Second Moment
of Area
Axis
x-x
[cm4]
133
148
164
228
241
266
316
373
411
448
544
609
665
717
799
902
941
1020
1090
1160
1296
1400
1500
1590
1800
1860
2000
2130
2477
2610
2770
3223
3330
3550
3760
4190
4460
4720
5370
5530
5850
6170
6760
7160
7540
7920
9213
9470
9980
10490
10980
12280
12930
13580
14220
16460
17260
18860
21180

Axis
y-y
[cm4]
2.34
2.70
3.10
3.57
3.80
4.32
5.56
5.86
6.55
7.32
9.62
9.90
10.93
12.05
13.93
15.07
15.76
17.21
18.77
20.46
22.03
23.89
25.86
27.98
31.15
32.34
34.81
37.43
42.84
45.90
49.11
57.55
59.44
63.34
67.42
75.74
80.44
85.33
97.92
100.8
106.6
112.6
124.6
131.5
138.6
145.9
172.3
176.7
185.7
194.8
204.3
232.4
243.6
255.0
266.6
313.9
327.9
356.7
402.6

Elastic Modulus

Axis
x-x
[cm3]
18.4
21.0
23.6
27.3
29.0
32.5
39.9
38.6
43.3
47.9
59.8
55.9
62.1
67.8
76.8
74.0
77.7
85.0
92.3
99.6
95.3
105
113
122
123
126
137
148
153
162
175
184
191
206
221
222
239
256
266
274
294
313
313
335
357
379
390
402
428
455
481
476
507
537
568
594
628
700
804

Radius of Gyration

Axis
y-y
[cm3]

Axis
x-x
[cm]

4.42
4.82
5.17
6.16
6.44
6.86
7.94
9.16
9.63
10.3
11.9
13.4
14.2
14.9
16.2
18.4
18.8
19.8
20.9
21.8
24.2
25.7
26.9
28.0
31.5
32.3
33.8
35.3
40.0
41.7
43.5
49.6
50.8
53.2
55.3
61.1
63.8
66.1
73.6
75.2
78.6
81.0
88.4
92.0
94.9
98.6
112
115
119
123
127
140
145
150
155
175
181
193
209

3.78
3.75
3.74
4.41
4.41
4.39
4.36
5.05
5.04
5.02
5.00
5.68
5.67
5.65
5.63
6.32
6.31
6.31
6.28
6.26
6.95
6.95
6.93
6.90
7.60
7.58
7.57
7.56
8.28
8.21
8.19
8.84
8.84
8.83
8.81
9.47
9.47
9.45
10.10
10.10
10.10
10.09
10.72
10.73
10.73
10.71
11.66
11.66
11.67
11.67
11.66
12.60
12.60
12.61
12.61
13.55
13.54
13.53
13.57

Axis
y-y
[cm]
0.50
0.51
0.51
0.55
0.55
0.56
0.58
0.63
0.64
0.64
0.66
0.72
0.73
0.73
0.74
0.82
0.82
0.82
0.82
0.83
0.91
0.91
0.91
0.92
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.09
1.09
1.09
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.18
1.27
1.27
1.27
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.36
1.46
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.59
1.59
1.59
1.59
1.59
1.73
1.73
1.73
1.73
1.87
1.87
1.86
1.87

Warping
Constant

Torsional
Constant

H*
[cm6(x103)]

J
[cm4]

0.242
0.251
0.263
0.504
0.508
0.528
0.575
1.12
1.16
1.20
1.31
2.45
2.51
2.58
2.71
4.67
4.72
4.83
4.93
5.09
8.64
8.80
8.98
9.18
14.8
14.9
15.3
15.6
24.7
25.0
25.4
39.0
39.2
40.1
41.0
59.9
60.5
61.8
89.9
90.3
91.2
92.3
131
132
133
135
221
221
223
225
227
357
359
362
364
557
562
576
570

1.595
2.100
2.773
2.383
2.708
3.501
5.752
3.681
4.600
5.763
9.936
6.352
7.686
9.328
12.44
9.129
9.924
11.70
14.00
16.65
13.24
15.31
17.81
20.76
18.16
19.37
22.46
25.73
25.03
28.09
31.68
33.05
34.80
39.19
44.25
43.25
47.55
53.06
56.02
58.45
63.86
70.06
71.17
77.02
83.00
91.30
97.66
100.7
108.1
116.6
126.0
131.0
139.3
148.7
159.6
176.6
187.9
215.6
252.6

Bulb flats

Technical data

Tolerances & Steel Specifications

Tolerances (In accordance with BS EN 10067:1997)
1. Dimensional Variation - All Dimensions in mm
Width b

Thickness t

Over

Up to

Permitted Variation

From

Up to

Permitted Variation

120

1.5

+ 0.7 - 0.3

120

180

2.0

11

+ 1.0 - 0.3

180

300

3.0

13

+ 1.0 - 0.4

300

430

4.0

12

20

+ 1.2 - 0.4

Improved tolerances may be available by agreement

Radius of curvature of corners

r1 for thicknesses
Over
Up to
Max.
-

1.5

2.0

13

3.0

13

20

4.0

2. Weight Variation
The weights shown in the tables have been calculated from the cross section with a density of 0.785
kilogram per square centimetre per metre run.
Permitted weight variations:
+6.0% - 2.0% of the total weight for consignments of 5 tonnes and over.
+8.0% - 2.7% of the total weight for consignments under 5 tonnes.

3. Straightness Variation in Accordance with BS EN 10067: 1997

Straightness tolerance q shall be 0.0035 L (the entire length of the bar)
Improved straightness tolerances may be available by agreement

Steel specifications
1. Shipbuilding
Classification Society

A32/36*

D32/36*

Lloyds

DNV

ABS

BV

GL

Class NK

RINA

D40

F**

F = Full approval O = Approval obtained on an order by order basis

* = Equivalent to AH32/36 and DH 32/36 for Lloyds Register.
Equivalent to KA 32/36 and KD 32/36 for class NK.
**
up to 12mm thickness

2. Construction
Bulb flats are available in a range of steel grades suitable for bridge construction in accordance with BS
EN 10025: 1993 and BS EN 10113-3 S420M (upto 12mm thickness)

10 Bulb flats

www.corus-specialprofiles.com
Care has been taken to ensure that this
information is accurate, but Corus Group
plc, including its subsidiaries, does not
accept responsibility or liability for errors or
information which is found to be misleading.

Designed and produced by

Orchard Corporate Ltd.
Copyright Corus 2002

Corus Special Profiles

PO Box 1
Skinningrove
Saltburn
TS13 4ET
United Kingdom
T +44 (0) 1287 640212
F +44 (0) 1287 593071
English language version

Corus International Americas Houston

13135 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 240
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
USA
T 281 313 8666
F 281 313 8668
E-mail: CIAH@corusgroup.com

SR:1000:UK:09/2002