Ultimate strength design of stiffened plates under axial compression and bending

The basis for design of stiffened plates under longitudinal compression is outlined and predictions using several codes are compared against numerical results from an inelastic beam-column formulation and test results. In order to explore the inherent differences in column behaviour separately from discrepancies arising due to plate panel behaviour, the code predictions are re-evaluated adopting a common plate panel effective width formulation. On this basis, a critical review of code methods is made and some modifications are proposed.

The effect of the magnitude and direction of applied uniform bending on the axial capacity of stiffened plates is investigated by comparing two alternative design approaches, namely an interaction equation and a method based on the Perry equation, against results from numerical analyses and from rigid plastic theory. The interaction equation is invariably more conservative than the Perry approach but its simplicity tends to be convenient for routine design applications. Finally, results of numerical analyses, together with experimental results from previous studies, on continuous stiffened plates under combined axial compression and lateral pressure are presented and available design guidance is discussed.