Plaque Raidi

Marine Structures 8 (1995) 1-36
© 1994 Elsevier Science Limited

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0951-8339/95/$9.50
ELSEVIER
Buckling and Ultimate Strength Interaction in Plates and

Stiffened Panels under Combined Inplane Biaxial and
Shearing Forces
Yukio Ueda
Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567,
Japan
S. M. H. Rashed
Technical Department, MSC Japan, Tokyo, Japan
&
J. K. Paik
Department of Naval Architecture, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea
(Received 12 January 1992; revised version received 4 November 1993;
accepted 8 December 1993)
ABSTRACT
The main portion of a ship's structure is usually composed of stiffened

ph~tes. Between girders and floors, stiffeners are furnished to plates usually
in the longitudinal direction. Under various loads applied to a ship, such as
those due to cargo, buoyancy and waves, these stiffened plates are subjected
to combined inplane and lateral loads. Imperfections due to fabrication
exist mainly in the form of initial deflection and residual stresses. The
be,~aviour of perfectly flat plates is, however, an important reference in
design.
In this paper, buckling, ultimate and fully plastic strength interaction
relationships for rectangular perfectly flat plates and uniaxially stiffened
plates subjected to inplane biaxial and shearing forces are derived and
expressed in explicit forms based on the results of theoretical in vestigations
of the non-linear behaviour of plates and stiffened plates.
2 Yukio Ueda, S. M. H, Rashed, J. K. Paik
The accuracy of these interaction relationships is confirmed through

comparison with the results of other analysis methods.
With the aid of these interaction relationships, buckling load, ultimate
strength and/or fully plastic strength of such perfectly flat plates and
uniaxially stiffened plates subjected to inplane loads may be predicted by
hand calculation.
Key words: interactions, buckling, ultimate strength, plate, stiffened plate,

compression, bending, shear.
NOTATION
A Cross-sectional area of a stiffener

Ar Total cross-sectional area of a stiffener
together with the associated modified effec-
tive breadth of plate
Ax Cross-sectional area of plate panel normal to
x direction (= bt)
A~, Cross-sectional area of plate panel normal to
y direction (= at)
a Plate length
I
Half buckled wavelength
b Breadth of a stiffened panel
b' Breadth of a plate between two stiffeners
fie' ae' Post-buckling effective widths of a plate in the
x and y directions, respectively
beo' Modified effective breadth of an orthotropic
plate in the x direction
b~st' Tangential post-buckling effective breadth of
a plate panel corresponding to a stiffener
D(=Dp1) Plate bending stiffness ( Et3 /12(1 - v2))
Dx, Dy, Dxy Plate bending stiffness components for an
orthotropic plate
E Modulus of elasticity
Moduli of elasticity of an orthotropic plate in
x and y directions, respectively
Magnitude of eccentricity of loading
Moment of inertia of a stiffener together with
the associated modified effective breadth of
plate
m Number of half-waves of buckling in x
direction
Buckling and ultimate strength interaction 3
Nx, ~xcr, Ny, Nycr, Vx, Vxcr Forces obtained by integrating ax, O'xcr, o'y,
aycr, zx,, and "~xycr, over the respective cross-
sectional area (b't or at) of a plate between
stiffeners
Nxp Fully plastic force of a plate in the x direction
(=b' tao)
Gp Fully plastic force of a plate in the y direction
(=atao)
n Number of stiffeners
P Axial force acting on a stiffener with its
effective breadth.
Pus Euler's buckling strength of a stiffener with
the effective breadth of a buckled plate
t Plate thickness
V~, ry Shearing forces in x and y directions, respectively
Vrp Full plastic shearing force of a plate (=atZo)
Zm Section modulus corresponding to the out-
most fibre of a stiffener
Section modulus corresponding to the outer-
most fibre of the plate
Stress coefficients expressing deviation of ax
and O-y from o'xav and ayav, respectively
~.rmax, O~xmin Stress coefficient ~x at the locations of O'xmax
and O'xmin, respectively
O~ymax~,O~ymin Stress coefficient ~y at the locations of armax
and O'ymin,respectively
Aspect ratio of a plate between two stiffeners
(=a/b')
FB Buckling interaction function
Pp Fully plastic strength interaction function
Pu Ultimate strength interaction function
? Stiffness ratio of stiffener to plate (=EI/b'D)
yBmin Minimum stiffness ratio of stiffener to plate
for buckling
yUmi n Minimum stiffness ratio of stiffener to plate
for ultimate strength
/3x Normal strain in the x direction
P Load factor
O"o Yield stress
O'ov Effective yield stress (= v/(a02 - 3Zxy2))
O"s Normal stress acting on the outermost fiber of
a stiffener
4 Yukio Ueda, S. M. H. Rashed, J. K. Paik
fix, CTy Normal stresses in x and y directions,

respectively
O'xav, O'yav Average normal stresses in x and y directions,
respectively
Uxcr, O'ycr, Txycr Elastic buckling stresses of a plate under the
action of each stress alone
O'°xcr, O'°ycr, T°xycr Elastic buckling stresses of an orthotropic
plate under the action of each stress alone
O'wnax, O'.vmax Maximum normal stresses of a plate in the x
and y directions, respectively
O'*xmax Maximum normal stresses of a stiffener in the
x direction
O'xmin, O'ymin Minimum normal stresses of a plate in the x
and y directions, respectively
O'xs Pre-buckling normal stress of a stiffener in the
x direction
Txy Shear stress
To Yield stress under pure shear (=fro/V/3)
Poisson's ratio
1 INTRODUCTION
The hull of a ship is fundamentally regarded as a thin-walled box-girder

whose major portion is usually composed of stiffened plates. Stiffeners,
furnished to plates, are supported by girders and bulkheads. Under
various loads applied to a ship, such as those due to cargo, buoyancy and
waves, the hull is subjected to longitudinal shear, bending and torsion.
Locally, each portion of the structure is subjected to lateral loads, and
inplane axial forces, bending and shearing forces.
Simple methods to accurately evaluate buckling, plastic and ultimate
strength of components of such complicated structures are very useful in
the examination of their safety.
Plates and stiffened plates, as the main components of such structures, are
considered. External loads acting on them may be divided into two groups:
(1) inplane loads, composed of axial forces (compression or tension) in
two normal directions, bending and shearing forces;
(2) distributed lateral loads, caused by water pressure or pressure due
to weather, liquid or bulk cargo.
In this paper, only inplane loads are considered. The influence of
distributed lateral loads will be reported in another paper.
A.s rectangular plates and stiffened plate panels are small compared
with the overall ship structure, inplane bending moments acting on indi-
vidual panels in the deck, side or bottom plating are insignificant and may
be neglected. Therefore, rectangular plates and stiffened plate panels are
considered to be subjected to inplane axial forces in two normal directions
and uniformly distributed inplane shearing forces.
Plates and stiffened plates in ship structures unavoidably have certain
amounts of initial imperfection mainly due to fabrication. These imper-
fections exist primarily in the form of initial deflections and welding resi-
dual stresses. These imperfections cause reduction of the strength and
stiffness of plates and stiffened plates. However, the strength of perfectly
fiat plates without any residual stresses is an important reference in design.
Evaluation of the ultimate strength of plates and stiffened plates with
initial imperfections involves more complex procedures which are not
suited for hand calculations (or a simple computer program). Numerical
methods such as FEM or ISUM are more effective in such evaluations.
Therefore, here, only perfect plates are dealt with.
Development of buckling and ultimate strength interaction relation-
ships in the form of equations or graphs for plates and stiffened plates has
attracted a lot of international interest for a long time. Work available in
the literature may be divided into two classes. The first is a presentation of
results obtained by numerical techniques taking account of geometric and
material non-linearities. Example of such results may be found in Refs I, 2
and 3. The other class consists of analytical solutions, in which solutions
are obtained based on suitable failure criteria. Examples may be found in
Refs 4 and 5. A review of available material requires a paper to itself and
it is not intended to present such a review in this paper. The available
information, however, does not cover all the practical range with sufficient
accuracy and confidence, in particular with regard to inplane shear effects.
In this study, the buckling strength, the ultimate strength after buckling,
and the fully plastic strength of rectangular perfectly fiat plates and stif-
fened plates under combined inplane biaxial forces and inplane shear are
investigated. Strength functions are derived and expressed in terms of
applied forces. Comparisons with published results and those of analysis
by the finite element method are presented.
2 N O N - L I N E A R BEHAVIOUR OF S T I F F E N E D PLATES
A stiffened plate is considered as a part of a large plate structure such as a

deck or side shell of a ship as shown in Fig. 1. The length, breadth and
thickness of this stiffened plate are a, b and t, and its plate bending stiff-
6 Yukio Ueda, S. M. H. Rashed. J. K. Paik
IY Oy (Ny)
"g~(Vx ) ~ ~ ~ ~
D
/
O'x .~,..~ 1
(Nx)
---~!
!
A,I~
t ! ~ 0 x
(Nx)
.0
X
_'2-
""-- "*---Txy (Vx)

ttt tt,ttt
Oy (Ny)
a
Fig. I. Stiffened plate and applied loads.
ness is D = Et3/12(I -1,'2), where E is the modulus of elasticity and v is

Poisson's ratio.
Assume n stiffeners of equal dimensions are attached to the plate in the x
direction at regular intervals b'. The cross-sectional area and moment of
inertia of each stiffener are A and I, respectively (I includes the effective
breadth of the plating associated with the stiffener). It is assumed that stif-
feners do not buckle prior to buckling of the plates between adjacent stif-
feners (stiffeners are usually designed to satisfy this condition). Stiffened
plate panels are assumed to be simply supported and edges remain straight
in the plane of the panel. Inplane compressive or tensile forces are applied
in the two axial directions x and y, together with uniform shear stress. Due
to the assumed boundary conditions, the applied biaxial forces will produce
uniform inplane compressive or tensile displacements at the plate edges.
In this paper, this loading condition is referred to as a combined load of
biaxial forces and inplane shear.
When a flat stiffened plate is subjected to a combined load as mentioned
above, uniform biaxial normal stresses (~rx and ~r,.) and uniform shear
stress (~.~,.) are produced in the plate, while only a uniform normal stress in
the x direction, axs is produced in the stiffeners. Increasing this combined
load, the stiffened plate behaves in different ways according to its dimen-
sions and the combination of the applied load components.
When the stiffened plate has a sufficiently low out-of-plane bending

stiffness, it buckles in one of two buckling modes. One is overall buckling
in which the plate buckles together with the stiffeners, and the other is
local buckling where plates between stiffeners buckle while the stiffeners
remain straight. This is controlled by the relative stiffness ratio of the
stiffeners to the plate, i.e. 7(=EI/b'D). When ~: is smaller than a certain
value 7amin6, the stiffened plate buckles in the overall mode. The overall
buckling strength increases together with 7.
When 7 is greater than 7Brain6, local buckling takes place instead of overall
buckling and the buckling stress reaches an upper limit regardless of higher
values of 7- T h i s 7amin is given as the point of intersection between the two
buckling curves representing the two buckling modes as shown in Fig. 2.
After buckling, local or overall, the stiffened plate may support further
increments of the load, though with lower inplane stiffness, until it reaches
its ultimate strength after plasticity prevails.
The collapse mode at ultimate strength varies according to the value of
7. Under compression acting in the x direction, one of the following modes
is produced.
(a) When 7 is smaller than 7Bmin,the stiffened plate buckles in an overall
mode, followed by overall collapse in the same mode of deformation
as that at buckling.
(b) When 7 is slightly greater than 7amin, the stiffened plate buckles
locally. As its effective stiffness decreases due to this buckling,
overall collapse may.occur either due to spread of plasticity in the
stiffeners or due to overall buckling of the stiffeners together with the
associated effective portions of the buckled plates.
ULTIMATE STRENGTH
LOCAL
LOCAL
0~'~ BUCKLING STRENGTH
0 B U "t
7 min Ymin
Nxp : FULLY PLASTIC COMPRESSIVE BTRNGTH
Fig. 2. Reaction of buckling strength and ultimate strength of axially compressive stif-
fened plates to the stiffness ratio of stiffeners.
In these two cases, (a) and (b), the ultimate strength increases together
with 7.
(c) When ~ is greater than a certain value, ~Umin6, stiffeners are strong
enough to prevent overall collapse after local buckling. The
stiffened plate reaches its ultimate strength by local collapse of
the plate panels between the stiffeners followed by buckling or
plastic collapse of stiffeners. In this case, ultimate strength does not
increase with 7 and reaches its upper limit; •Omi n is 30-50% greater
than 7~mio, which is obtained by a small increase in the moment of
inertia of the stiffener.
Compression in the y direction causes one of the following two modes.
(a) When 7' is less than 7"rain, the stiffened plate buckles in an overall
mode, and then collapses in the same mode.
(b) When 7 is greater than 7Bmi., the stiffened plate buckles locally, and
then collapses locally. In this case, "~Bmin ),Umin"
When the plate is subjected to compression in both the x and y direc-
tions, its behaviour depends upon the ratio of ~ to a,. and follows one of
the two schemes mentioned above.
The presence of shear stress reduces the compressive buckling strength
in both the overall and local modes.
The values of 7Brain and 7Umio depend upon the geometry and mechan-
ical properties of the stiffened plate as well as the ratio of load compo-
nents. The value o f 7Brain can also vary significantly depending upon the
direction of loading. Therefore, the behavior of a stiffened plate may be
classified into four classes three of which are dependent on the values of 7
in reference to ~Bmin and 7Umi. and the fourth class is the fully-plastic
strength without buckling, as follows.
(1) 7 < 7Bmi, (ultimate strength condition 1).
The stiffened plate buckles and collapses in an overall mode.
(2) 7Brain < ~ < 7Umin (ultimate strength condition 2).
Plates between stiffeners buckle locally: ultimate strength is reached
by plastification or buckling of stiffeners.
(3) 7 > ~Vmin(ultimate strength condition 3).
After plates between stiffeners buckle locally, they reach their ulti-
mate strength. Buckling or plasticity of stiffeners follows leading to
collapse.
(4) Fully plastic strength (ultimate strength condition 4).
Plates between stiffeners have sufficient stiffness such that buckling
does not occur until the fully plastic strength is reached under the
specified loading condition.
3 BUCKLING, ULTIMATE STRENGTH AND FULLY PLASTIC

STRENGTH INTERACTION RELATIONSHIPS OF A
R E C T A N G U L A R P L A T E S U B J E C T E D TO B I A X I A L A N D
UNIFORM SHEAR FORCES
Buckling and post-buckling behaviour of a rectangular plate between

stiffeners or girders is discussed in this section. A simply supported
rectangular plate subjected to axial forces in the two principal perpendi-
cular directions and a uniform shearing stress is considered. Buckling,
ultimate and fully plastic strengths are theoretically studied and interac-
tion relationships are expressed in explicit form.
3.1 Buckling interaction
Buckling interaction relationships for a plate under a combined load of

uniform normal stresses trx and a,. and shearing stress ~.~, may be expres-
sed by the following equations based on analytical solutions 7"8.
(1) When a~ is tensile and try is compressive (trx < 0, try > 0)
(m2+f12) 2 a~. ~- O""v + "/7.,O, = 1. (la)

m2(1 q_ fie)2 trxcr O'ycr \ Zx,,cr/
(2) When trx is compressive and a,. is tensile (ax > 0, ay < 0)
trx (1-q-f12)2 try ( )2
~-
O'xcr (m2 + fl2)2 "
trycr t- Zxvcr =
r~3------L' 1. (lb)
(3) When a.,. and tr,. are compressive (ax > 0, t%. > 0)
~W v"ccr / a,./a ,cr = 1. (lc)

I - 2] + I - 2
In eqn (lc), e~ and e2 are given as follows:

for l/v/--2 ~< fl ~< x/-2, el = e2 -- 1
for fl > v/--2, el = 0.0293 f13 _ 0.3364 f12 + 1.5854 fl - 1-0596
e2 = 0.0049 f13 = 0-1183 f12 + 0.6153 fl - 0.8522.
In eqn (1), axc~, t%.c~and zx~.cr are the buckling stresses when each stress acts
alone on the plate; fl = a(n + 1)/b = a/b' is the aspect ratio of a plate between
two adjacent stiffeners; and m is the number of half-waves of buckling when a
plate of aspect ratio fl buckles under compression in the x direction only.
Here, when a plate is subjected to compression in both the x and y
directions, the buckling interaction relationship may be expressed by
several linear interaction equations, each applicable to a certain region

depending on fl and the ratio of o'x to o-.,,. As the application of several
equations is inconvenient, eqn (lc) is to be preferred since it is continuous
and yields a good approximation for the entire region.
Adopting these equations, a buckling interaction function I~B may be
expressed as follows and as shown by the dashed curves in Fig. 3.
(1) When N~ is tensile, and N,, is compressive (N~ < 0, Ny > 0)
(m2-}-f12)2 Nx Nv ( Vv ) 2
FB--m2(l+fl2) 2 N , ~ + ~ + ~ -1. (2a)
N fiN yp
1 YIELDINGAT SHORTEDGES
YIELDINGAT CORNERS
, YIELDINGAT LONGEDGES
'. ~ Nx/Nxp
1
BUCKLINGSTRENGTH
FULLYPLASTICSTRENGTH
Nx~
11
f ULTIMATESTRENGTH
~ ~ BUCKLINGSTRENGTH
/.-"
/
I I t/'l '
.\, -- V /V
Fig. 3. Buckling strength, ultimate strength and fully plastic strength of a rectangular plate.
(;2) When Nx is compressive, and Ny is tensile (N~ > 0, N, < 0)
Nx (1 +fl2)2 Ny ( Vx ~2
1-'13
-- Nxc~r-~ (m 2 + fl2)2 Nycr ~ t V.---~cr) - 1. (2b)
(:3) When N~ and N,' are compressive (N~ > 0, N,' < 0)
Nx/Nxc r el
(2c)
. . --~-~'~xcr)2 / - 1.
where Nx, Nxcr, Ny, Nvcr, Vx, Vxcr are obtained by integrating ax,
axcr, ay, a~r, Zxy, Zxycr, respectively over the cross-sectional area of a
plate between stiffeners (b't or at).
It is to be noted that when the four sides of a rectangular plate are equally
subjected to the shearing stress Zxy, the shearing forces Vx and I(,, in the x
and y directions are proportional to the lengths of the sides, i.e.
Vx := atZxy, Vy = b' tz~v and V~lVy = alb'.
When Fa is smaller than zero, this indicates that the plate has not
buckled. The buckling condition is expressed as
FB = O. (3)
FB > 0 indicates that the plate has buckled.
3.2 Ultimate strength interaction relationships and stress coefficients
3.2.1 Ultimate strength interaction relationships
When a plate buckles under axial forces in the x and y directions, the normal
stress distribution along the edges of a half buckled wavelength is as shown in
Fig, 4. This stress distribution is developed repeatedly along each half buckled
'tU: T : TENSION
'°'
C : COMPRESSION
• : YIELD LOCATION
Fig. 4. Stress distribution in a buckled plate.

wavelength of the plate. Under this pattern of stress distribution, the ultimate
strength of the plate is assumed to be reached when the resulting stress satis-
fies the yield condition at one of the following locations, as shown in Fig. 4.
(a) The four corners.
(b) Two points, one along each longitudinal edge, at the middle of each
half buckled wavelength.
(c) Two points, one along each transverse edge, at the middle of the
plate breadth.
To evaluate this ultimate strength, first, denoting the uniaxial yield
stress by 0-0, the Mises' yield condition may be expressed as follows when
shear and normal stresses act simultaneously:
0"0 2 = O'x 2 + O'y2 -- 0-x O'y + 3Zxy2. (4)
Introducing an effective yield stress, a0v, 0-0v = v/O0 2 - 3rxy2 the above
yield condition may be rewritten as
O'0v 2 = O'x 2 + O-y2 -- O"x O'y. (5)
Here, the normal stresses at each of the above-mentioned locations may

be expressed in terms of the axial forces, Nx and N,,, and shearing force Vx
as follows:
0-x)v:b'/2 (l/b') (1 + ~xmin) 0 N~

O'y)iv=0 or a : 0 (l/a) (1 + 0~vmax) N v
O'y)x=a,/2 0 ( l / a ) (1 + ~ymin) V.r
Z.~y 0 0 1/b' J
(6)
where
0-X)y=0 or b', O'y)x=O or a : the stresses at a corner of half a buckled wave,
ax)y =h,/z, ay).~ = a,/2 : the stresses at the centre of half a buckled wave,
axav, 0-yav: the average values of the stresses perpendicular to the sides,
a' : half buckled wavelength.
0~xmax, 0~xmin, ~ymax and aymin in the eqn (6) are stress coefficients which
express the deviation of the stresses ax and try from the average stresses
O'xav and 0-yav, respectively, due to buckling.
At the m o m e n t when a rectangular plate buckles, stresses are still
uniformly distributed and the values of these stress coefficients are zero.
Their values start to increase from zero as the load increases and the stress
becomes non-uniform. Their values depend upon the magnitude of the
load and are evaluated in the next section.
Buckling and ultimate strength #tteraction 13
Denoting the post-buckling effective widths by be' and ae' the relation-
ship between the effective widths and the above-mentioned stress coeffi-
cients may be expressed as follows:
be' = b'/(1 + ~Xxmax) (7a)
ae = a/(1 + CXymax). (7b)
Dividing eqn (5) by 0"02
O"x O'y fix 0-), __ O'0v2

(8)
0-0 2 0"02
the ultimate strength interaction relationship is obtained by substituting

eqn (6) into eqn (8)
N, (1 + ax) + (1 + O~y) N, cp Nyp
= 1 __ ( V_~p)2 (9)
where Nxp = b ' tao, Nyp = at ao, Vxp = at zo, Zo = ao/x/--3.

The locations of yielding vary according to the loading conditions
(Fig. 4) and associated stress coefficients should be used as follows:
(a) in the case of yielding at the corner: ~,-max, ~ymax;
(b) in the case of yielding at sides parallel to the x axis: ~Xxmax, 0~ymin;
(C) in the case of yielding at sides parallel to the y axis: 0~xmin, CXyma
x.
An ultimate strength function Fu of the plate may then be expressed as
follows:
ru-- (1-+-~x) + (l+~y) " (l+~x)(l+~y)

- t. yp mxp Nyp
(lo)
+ -1
and the ultimate strength condition is expressed as

r~ = 0 . (ll)
3.2.2 S t r e s s coefficients
The ,;tress coefficients ~Xxmax, 0~xmin, 0~ymax and 0~ymin which have been defined
in the preceding section are evaluated as follows.
When a rectangular plate has buckled under axial compressive forces in

the x and y directions, the maximum stresses are developed at the corners
of each half buckled wave, and the minimum stresses in the middle of the
edges of each half wave (Fig. 4). These maximum and minimum stresses
may be analytically evaluated and the stress coefficients may be expressed
with superscript * as follows: 8
b ' Ny zt2mZ D b'
0~*xmax : T]I "-~ 7]2 a----~x -----5~
a T]3 N---~
~*xmin : --~*xmax
any a4 n2D a (12)
5~*vmax. : T]2~-~),-]-m---'~bt4 T]I- --~713 ~yy
~*vmin 2mab,ymax 2m2a2b '2 2( a2 + m2b'2) 2

rh a4 q_ m a b l 4 , r/2 a4 + m4b, 4 , 713 = a4 q_ m a b r 4 •
In the above equations m is the number of half buckled waves, which depends
upon the aspect ratio of the plate,/3 = a/b', and the ratio of axial forces, Ny/N~;
m is evaluated as the minimum integer satisfying the following equation:
fl ~< [ _ p + (p2 + 4Q)U2]l/2/2 (13)
where
P = c[m 4 - (m + 1)4]/[2(m - 2mc - c) + 1]
Q = m2(m + 1)2(2m + 1)/[2(m - 2mc - c) + 1]
c = (Ny/NO (b'/a).
In the above equations, when N~ or Ny is zero, the stress coefficients

relevant to Ny/N~ or Nx/Ny, respectively, become infinite. Actually, when
the average stress in one direction is even zero, finite values of stresses in
this direction are produced in the plate due to the constraint of the edges.
These stresses may be evaluated by the following equations:
Nx Ny ~2 m2 D 3
ax*)y=0 = (1 + rh) + ~-7~+ T/2-~- ~ r/
ax*)y:b,/2 = 2 Nx )
b't - aX*/y=O
O'y*)x=0 = TI2~tt-'[- 1 -q--m----~bt4r/l Naty 7c2D

b'Z t rl3
¢7 , = 2Ny -- Gy* '~

x )x=a/2 at ,Ix=o"
In the actual analysis, stresses are obtained as the product of the stress
coefficients and average stresses. In order to avoid numerical troubles
when Nx or Ny equals zero, infinitesimally small values of Nx or Nv may
be assumed instead of zero so that finite stress coefficients are realised.
3.2.3 Effect of shearing force on .stress coefficients
In the following, the effect of shearing force on stress coefficients is

examined numerically. It is to be noted here that the stress coefficients are
functions of only Nx/N~cr, Ny/Nycr and Z/Tcr, together with plate dimen-
sions.
A parametric study has been carried out for a rectangular plate. Load-
ing histories of axial compression in one direction and shearing force are
plotted in Fig. 5. At first, axial compression is applied. Then, keeping the
compression at a constant value, N*, shearing force is applied. Six differ-
ent levels of N* are considered and the stress distributions are calculated
using the incremental Galerkin's method. 9
The stress coefficients are then calculated and results are shown in
Fig. 5b. The effect of shearing force may be classified into the following
two groups according to the relative value of axial compression, Nx, to the
buckling compression, N~cr.
(a) When Nx < Nx~r, (curves 1 to 3 in Fig. 5(b)).
When a rectangular plate is subjected to an axial compression, N~
smaller than Nx~r, it does not buckle. However, keeping the axial
3.0 -~ 6
2.0 =,L 5
== 4
BUCKLING INTERACTION CURVE
,.o :- 3
0 1.0 2.0
Vx/Vxcr
Fig. 5a. Loading histories.

20
1 : Ox/Oxc r =0.325
2 : 0.650
15 3 : 0.975
4 : 1.500
5 : 2.000
E 6 : 3.000
10
1.0 1.5 2.0

"~xy/ Xxycr
--6
4
-5
~3
.c
=F
a x m a x = aymax
-10
axmin = aymi n
-15 L -,1
Fig. 5b. Effect of shear stress on stress coefficients.
compression constant and applying an increasing shearing force, the

plate buckles at a certain value of shear stress. As the shear stress
continues to increase, the normal stress o-~ increases near the edges
y = 0 and y = b' and decreases in the middle as shown in Fig. 6(a).
The stress coefficients change gradually as shown in Fig. 5(b).
(b) When N~ > N~cr, (curves 4-6 in Fig, 5(b)).
When a rectangular plate is subjected only to an increasing axial
compression Nx, it buckles when N~ = N.~cr and stress coefficients
change as expressed by eqn (12) (Ny = 0).
Next, keeping N.~ constant and applying an increasing shearing force,
the normal stress trx increases in the vicinities of edges y = 0 and y = b',
and decreases in the middle as shown in Fig. 6. The stress coefficients
change gradually with the change of shear stress as shown in Fig. 5(b).
Such changes in the stress coefficients as shown in Fig. 5(b) may be
accurately expressed by the following equations:
0~xmax ~- l'62(Nxcr/N~)v 24 + ~*xmax(f(V) + 1) "~

(15)
0~xmin - l ' 3 ( N x c r / N x ) v 2"1 + ~*xmin(0"3 V + 1) Y
where
C(*xmax ~ 0, f ( V ) = 0"62 v
~*xmax > 0, V ~< 1 f ( V ) = 1-3 v 15
0~*xmax > 0, 1) > 1 f ( V ) = 1-3 v
v = I VxllVx.
In the preceding case, an axial force is applied only in one direction. When
the plate is subjected to compression in two directions, a shearing force is
assumed to affect the stress coefficients in the x direction (0~xmax and 0~xmin)
and the y direction (~ymaxand 0~ymin)in the same way as under compression in
one direction. The stress coefficients under a combined load of biaxial and
shearing forces, may then be expressed by the following equations:
~xmax = l'62(N,:cr/N,:)v 2"4 + ~*xmax(f(V) + 1) )

~xmin = - 1 . 3 (Nvcr/NO v2'l + ~*xmin(0"3 V + 1)
%,max = 1.62 (Nycr/Nv) v 2"4 + ~*ymax(g(V) + 1) (16)
~ymin = --1.3 (Nycr/Nv) v 2"1 + 0~*ymin(0"3 V --}- 1)
where
0~*xmax ~ 0, f(V) = 0.62 v
~*xmax > 0, I,' ~< 1 f ( V ) = 1-3 v 15
~*xmax > 0, V> 1 f ( V ) = 1.3 v
~*vmax ~< 0, g(V) = 0.62 v
~*ymax > 0, V ~< 1 g(V) = 1-3 v t'5
~*smax>0, v> 1 g(V)= 1-3v
v = I v l/V c,
Substituting these stress coefficients into the ultimate strength interac-

tion function (eqn (11)), the ultimate strength interaction relationship of a
plate is obtained as plotted in Fig. 3.
3.3 Full plastic strength interaction
When a stiffened plate is stiff enough to prevent both local and overall
buckling, it reaches its full plastic strength. Normal stresses, ax and a v, and
the shear stress Zxy are considered to be uniformly distributed in the fiat
plate panels. Mises's yield condition (eqn (4)) may be written as follows:
~- = 1 (17)
\ ao / froz
(a) Nx/Nxcr=0.65 l
Vx/Vxcr = 0.0
n
E0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
(b) Nx/Nxcr = 1.50 I]
IJ
VxNxcr =0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Fig. 6. Axial stress d i s t r i b u t i o n .
where
~o = o0/vC-3.
Rewriting the above equation in terms of axial forces and shearing
force, the full plastic strength interaction function of a plate, Fp, is
obtained in the following form, and is represented in Fig. 3.
(Nx) 2 (Ny) 2 NxNy (Vx'~2_l (18)
The full plastic strength condition is expressed as

I~p = O. (19)
4 BUCKLING, ULTIMATE STRENGTH AND FULLY PLASTIC

STRENGTH INTERACTION RELATIONSHIPS FOR A
STIFFENED PLATE SUBJECTED TO BIAXIAL AND UNIFORM
SHEAR FORCES
As indicated in Section 2, the behaviour of a stiffened plate is classified

into four types according to the value of the relative stiffness ratio ? of the
stiffeners to the plate and the value of the yield stress a0. In this section,
buckling, ultimate strength and full plastic strength interaction relation-
ships for a stiffened plate are derived for these four types of behaviour.
These relationships are illustrated in Fig. 7 which indicates how to

construct them from the rectangular plate interaction equations shown by
dashed line in the same figure for the rectangular plate.
4.1 Overall buckling followed by overall collapse (~ ~< ~Bmin)
Here, a stiffened plate is considered to be reinforced by many stiffeners.

Thus, when a stiffened plate buckles in an overall mode, its behaviour may
be approximated as that of an orthotropic plate. Therefore, in this section,
a stiffened plate is dealt with as an equivalent orthotropic plate. In the
analysis, the properties of the equivalent orthotropic plate may be taken
as follows:
lyp
EQN (38b) YIELDING*
o~nA ~ , ~ ON SHORT EDGES
I / .--ATCORNERS
ON LONG EDGES
,~>, / EQN (34)**
// EQN(11)* - -
/-1 0 Nx/Nxp
I
I
=z>" l I
l /
EON (19)
\ \ 2. ~ FULLY PLASTIC
EQNS (38a)**"*
EQN (38a)***
EQN (38c)
ULTIMATE STRENGTH (STIFFENED PLATE)
m D ULTIMATESTRENGTH (PLATE)~.
BUCKLING STRENGTH (PLATE)" FIG. 3
* Depending on the combination of Oxrnax ,Oxrnin , o ymax, and Oymin .

** Obtained by displacing EQN (11) a distance =o0 nA on the N x axis in
the positive direction, representing fully pla~c compression of the stiffeners.
*** EQN (19) displaced by o0nA in the negative N x direction
(full plastic tensile strength of the stiffeners).
EQN (19) displaced by o0nA in the positive N x direction
(fully plastic compression of the stiffeners),
Fig. 7. Buckling strength, ultimate strength and fully plastic strength of a rectangular
plate.
Ev = E{1 + (nA/bt)}, Ev = E "]

Ax = bt, At, = at
Dx (nl/b) + Dpl, Dv Dpl, 2Dx,,(Gt3/3) + v(Dx + D~,)
(20)
Dpl = Et3/{12(l - v2)}
where D is flexural rigidity and I is the moment of inertia of a stiffener

together with the corresponding effective breadth of plating. Subscript pl
indicates the plate.
4.1.1 Buckling interaction relationship
When a stiffened plate is dealt with as an orthotropic plate, the buckling

interaction relationship may be expressed by using the same equation for
an isotropic plate (eqns (2)), i.e.
r B = r B (fl, Nx/Nvcr, Nv/Nlvr, Vx/~/~rcr)" (21)

However, the remaining variables present in eqn (2) should be evaluated
for the orthotropic plate by
= a/b
N~cr = a°x~(bt + nA)
N~,cr = a°~.cr(at) ?
I (22)
l'~cr = r°x,,cr(at) J
0-0xcr, a°,,cr and .COxvcrare
the buckling stresses of an orthotropic plate when
independently subjected to normal stresses ax, ay and a shear stress, .C.~y,
respectively.
4.1.2 Ultimate strength interaction relationship
In the case where a stiffened plate reaches its ultimate strength in an

overall collapse mode after overall buckling, an ultimate strength condi-
tion may be described in the same form as for a flat plate (eqn (10)).
When eqn (10) is applied, stress coefficients ~xmax, ~xmin, 0~ymaxand ~Ym,,are
obtained by eqn (16). However, b' in eqns (10) and (16) is to be replaced by b.
Nrcr, Nvcr and Vxcr a r e evaluated by eqn (22), and N~p = ao (bt + hA).
4.2 Local buckling, followed by overall or local collapse (7 > 7Bmin)
A stiffened plate with n stiffeners is regarded as being composed of n stiffen-

ers and (n + 1) plate panels whose behaviour and strengths are dealt with
separately. The behaviour of plate panels between stiffeners has already been
studied in Section 3. The results of this study are used in the following.
Buckling and ultimate strength Otteraction 2I
4.2. l Buckling interaction relationship
When a stiffened plate is subjected to axial forces N~ and N,, and shearing
forces Vx and E,,, and until the stiffened plate buckles locally, uniform
stresses ax, a), and Zx.,,act on each plate panel. The stiffeners are subjected
to uniform stress Oxs in the x direction. This stress may be evaluated from
the condition of continuity that the strain e.~ along the connecting line
between a stiffener and the plate is the same, i.e.
O'xs = a.~ - v o'.,.. (23)
Therefore, the relationship between the applied forces and the resulting
stresses may be expressed as follows:
N~ = ax(bt + nA) - v a,. nA ]
Nv,; = Z~,,
__Vx = a v atat " I (24)
v,_• = ,;;bt
where A is the cross-sectional area of a stiffener.
When a stiffened plate buckles locally due to normal stresses ax and a,.
and a shear stress %,, the buckling interaction relationship is expressed by
eqn (1). Substituting eqn (24) into eqn (1), the buckling interaction func-
tion 1-'B can be represented in terms of Nx, N). and Vx as follows:
(1) When ax is tensile and a~, is compressive (ax < O, a,, > O)
FB -- m2(l(m2+fl2)2N*+(vnA/at)Ny+
fl2)2 N~r ~-~N,. + ( VV~r)2 -- 1. (25a)
(2) When ox is compressive and a,, is tensile (ax > 0, a~. < 0)
FB = N~+(vnA/at)Nr
2 N " ~~ (m
(1+fl2)2
Nc ) ; rr Nr ~- ( V ~ )
- 2+fl2)2 - 1. (25b)
(3) When ax and o5, are compressive (ax > 0, a). > 0)
+ (v_nM/at) Ny}/Nrcr] el [ N,4/Nycr ]'le2
rB = [ 1 ( Vxl Vxcr)2 j -t- [ l - ~cr) 2 J -- 1 (25c)
where
Nxcr = O'xcr(bt -t- nA)
Nycr : O'ycr • at, Vxc r : "r~vc r at
and O'xcr, O'ycr and zx~r are the independent buckling stresses of a
plate between two adjacent stiffeners.
The buckling condition is expressed as

Fa = 0. (26)
4.2.2 Ultimate strength interaction relationship
When local buckling occurs in a stiffened plate, one of two ultimate

strength modes may take place, depending upon the relative stiffness ratio
7 of the stiffener to the plate.
(1) 7Bmin <~ 7 < 7Umin
As described in Chapter 3, the ultimate strength in this case is reached by
buckling or yielding of the stiffeners, depending on the loading condition.
After local buckling of the plates, the effectiveness of plate panels decreases
gradually, causing a shift of the neutral axis of the stiffened plate. When the
axial force N~ always acts at the neutral axis, a stiffened plate reaches its
ultimate strength due to stiffener buckling. On the other hand, when the line
of action of the axial force is fixed, the stiffened plate is subjected to an
eccentric axial force, causing bending of the stiffeners. In this case, a stiffened
plate reaches its ultimate strength due to initial yielding of the stiffeners.
(a) Buckling of stiffeners (concentric loading)
The Euler buckling strength of a stiffener, together with the effective
breadth of the buckled panel btest which corresponds to this stiffener, is
evaluated by the following equation:
rc2E I
Pus- a2 (27)
In this equation, E1 is the tangential bending stiffness. (Buckling of

columns is controlled by the tangential bending stiffness, not the secant
bending stiffness. When E1 is constant, the tangential bending stiffness is
the same as the secant bending stiffness.) Therefore, the effective breadth
b'est considered here corresponds to the tangential post-buckling stiffness
of a plate between two adjacent stiffeners. This is obtained by considera-
tion of A ex/A tr.~ and using be' of eqn (7).
b'est = b' 1 + ~ - ~ - ~ - b , 4 ( f ( v ) + 1) (28)
Here, b'e is the secant effective breadth, b'c = (exav)/(axma×) and b'est is the
tangential effective breadth, where b'es t = b' (A O'xav)/(A O'xmax).
In the above equation, f(V) is defined by eqn (16). Now the ultimate
strength Nxu may be obtained by adding the ultimate strength of one plate
panel, N(, representing the strength of the two half plate panels adjacent
to the longitudinal edges, to the buckling strength of all stiffeners with

their effective breadth of plating.
N~u = nPus + Nx' (29)
where N~' can be evaluated by solving eqn (10) for Nx as follows:
ao b't 4 Vx 2
Nx'-2(-i~0 [N@p(l+%)+~--4- (-E-~xp)-3I'N-~y(I+e"')]zl
" l v v p
The', ultimate strength function Fu is expressed as

Nx nPus+ Nx'
Fu = N~p N~p (30)
(b) Bending of stiffeners (eccentric loading)

In this case each stiffener, together with its associated effective portion of
the plate breadth b'e, is subjected to compression and bending: The stress
distribution in a stiffener and associated plate is as shown in Fig. 8. The
continuity of strain of the stiffener and plate along the connection line is
satisfied by eqn (23). Therefore, the stress O'xmaxin the plate is related to
that (a*xmax) of the stiffener as follows:
OXmax O'*xmax + VO'y.
= (31)
The stress distribution in the plate and the effective breadth be' change
according to the change of trxmax and can be obtained from eqns (7) and
(16). The effective breadth be' = b' (Gxav)/(tTxmax) is modified to be0' so that
it is expressed in terms of the stiffener stress tr*rmax-
beo' = b' axa~ (32a)

tr*xmax
Since the axial force acting on the plate panel should be the same whether
expressed in terms of be' or be0', be0' may be derived as shown below, using
eqn (31).
beo' = be'l(1 - v O'y/O'xmax) (32b)
The ultimate strength is obtained assuming that the stiffener with its
modified effective breadth be0' acts as a beam-column. The ultimate
compressive load Pus of the beam-column is determined by the condition
that plasticity of the outermost fibre of the stiffener has occurred.
First, stress as in the outer fiber of the stiffener (see Fig. 8) is evaluated
as follows, considering the magnifying effect of the axial force.
P
as -- AT PZ----/-
. e secant ( P ~ •2 ) (33a)
where P is the axial force acting on a stiffener with its effective breadth;
AT is the total cross-sectional area of each stiffener with modified effective
breadth beoAT'=A 4-beo't; e is the magnitude of the eccentricity of
loading; and Zs is the section modulus of the beam-column corresponding
to the outermost fibre of the stiffener.
The ultimate strength conditions may be expressed as follows:
as = a0 (33b)
When eqn (33b) is satisfied, P of eqn (33a) is the ultimate strength Pus, i.e.
P = Pus (33c)
Substituting Pus into eqn (30), the ultimate strength function Fu may be
derived.
The stress O'*xmax of the stiffener at the connection line between the plate
and the stiffener (see Fig. 8) may be calculated as follows:
P.e
P + ~ - p secant
O'*xmax = A~ (P~ • 2) (33d)
Oxav
i-- °xmax
N A -
I
I
I
I
°s °sav= P/PT
STIFFENER
\
Oxav °xmax
PLATING ASSOCIATED
WITH A STIFFENER
Fig. 8. Stress distribution in a stiffener and associated plating (eccentric loading).

where Zp is the section modulus of the beam-column corresponding to the

middle plane of the plate.
Here, however, eqns (33) contain AT, Zs, Zp and I, which are functions
of the modified effective breadth be0', which is expressed in terms of mean
stresses. Therefore, when the axial compression P reaches the ultimate
compressive load Pus, beo' should be evaluated such that it corresponds to
the ultimate load. (Usually, it can be obtained by iteration.)
(2) 7 > ~Umin
In this case, the plate between stiffeners buckles and collapses locally,
whiHe stiffeners do not buckle and may reach their fully plastic state. The
ultimate strength of a stiffened plate can be obtained from the sum of the
ultimate strengths of the plate panels and the stiffeners.
It is to be noted here that in a case of proportional loading, plate panels
and stiffeners will not generally reach their ultimate strength simulta-
neously. When either the plate panels or stiffeners reach their ultimate
strength, proportional loading cannot be significantly increased until the
others reach the ultimate strength. If the loading is not proportional, some
component of the load can be significantly increased until both the plate
panels and stiffeners reach their ultimate strength. The stiffness of the
stiffened plate will be reduced after either the plate panels or stiffeners
reach their ultimate strength.
Anyway, the difference between the ultimate strength conditions repre-
senting either the plate panels or the stiffeners reaching their ultimate
strength in proportional loading, and the ultimate strength to be derived
here, is not significant.
This discussion is also valid in the case of the fully plastic strength
which is derived in the next section.
(a) Concentric loading
Here, the stiffeners are subjected only to an axial force and their ultimate
strength is represented by ao hA, while the ultimate strength of plate panels
is a,; shown in Section 3.
From the condition of yielding of the plate panel, which is checked
either at the corners or in the middle of each half buckled wave, the ulti-
mate strength function I'u may now be obtained as follows.
For N~ > ~o nA + Nx
-~(1 +ex) - [~--~p(1 +%.)

(34)
1.
-- (Nxp ~yonA)Nvp(1 + O~x)(1 + ~y) -
ax and 0~yin the above equation may be 0~xmaxor 0~xminand ~ymax o r 0~ymin
according to the location of yielding and they are evaluated by eqn (16).
For, Nx < go nA + f¢~
['u = N y / N v p - f¢y/Nvp (35)
where A(~ and N,. are the coordinates of the intersection point of eqns (11)
and (19) as shown in Fig. 7.
(b) Eccentric Loading
When eccentricity of the loading occurs after buckling, the stiffeners are
subjected to bending and axial compression. By a certain magnitude of
increment of y, the overall collapse mode changes into the local collapse
mode which gives higher ultimate strength. The stiffness ratio y at this
transition point is defined a s •Umin.6
Under eccentric loading, a stiffened plate collapses by yielding caused
by bending of the stiffeners (with their effective breadths). From this
condition, the ultimate strength is evaluated in the same manner as in
Section 4.2.2 using eqns (33) and (30).
Finally, the condition of the ultimate strength is expressed by the
following equation:
Fu = 0. (36)
4.3 Fully plastic strength interaction curve
When a stiffened plate does not buckle in either local or overall modes, it
reaches its fully plastic strength. In this case, each plate is subjected to uniform
stresses ax, ay and zx>,such t h a t Oov2(=Oo 2 - 3 z2xy) = ax 2 + ~Ty2 - ~Yx ~Ty and
each stiffener is subjected to a uniform stress equal to ao.
The fully plastic strength interaction relationship under biaxial forces
N~ and N~' and shearing stress zxy is derived by the condition of plasticity
of the plate panel and expressed in the following form:
(N~+a°nA) + (NY) - (Nx+a°nA)Nrabfl -- aov2. (37)
Substituting aov by v/ao a - 3 zaxy and dividing by ao 2, the fully plastic

strength interaction function Fp is derived as follows:
(1) (a) N,. > 0, N, < Nx - ao nA
or Nr < O, Nx < - N~ - ao nA
p - go nA + \ N,,p / - (Nxp - ao hA) Nyp + - 1

(38a)
(b) Ny > O, Nx > N.~ +tro nA

or Ny < O, Nx > - f(~ +tro nA
( Nx - aonA 2 (Nx - ao nA) Nv
(38a)
(2) Ny > O, ~(,: -- cr o nA <~ N~ <~ 1Vx + ao nA
I~p = Nv/ Nyp - 2 ¢ 1 - (Vx/Vxp)2/'~/-3 (38b)
(3) Ny < O , - N x - a o n A <~ N~ <~ - N ~ + a o n A
Fp = -Nv/Nyp - 2 ¢ 1 - (I(~/Vxp)2/v/--3 (38c)

where
N.r = cro bt ¢ 1 - - ( V~/Vxp)2/x/-3.
The fully plastic condition is

Fp = 0. (39)
The buckling strength, ultimate strength and fully plastic strength
interaction relationships are schematically illustrated in Fig. 7.
5 PROCEDURE AND ACCURACY OF ANALYSIS
In the preceding sections, the buckling strength, ultimate strength and fully
plastic strength interaction relationships derived for a plate and a stiffened
plate subjected to inplane biaxial and shearing forces. In this section, the
procedure of analysis is described and the accuracy of the proposed equations
are examined through comparison with results obtained by other methods.
5.1 Procedure of analysis
In this section, procedures are presented to calculate the loads which

determine the buckling and ultimate strength of a rectangular plate and of
a stiffened plate whose sizes and material properties are known. The load
is assumed to be either proportional loading, or one in which only one of
the load components is changing while the others remain constant. In this
way, the load is represented by only one parameter, p.
5.1.1 Rectangular plates
A flow chart of this procedure is shown in Fig. 9. First, the buckling

strength load parameter PB may be obtained by using one of eqns (2)
corresponding to the specified condition of loading to solve the buckling
condition I~B -~ 0 of eqn (3).
Next, the fully plastic strength load parameter Pp is obtained by using
eqn (18) to solve the condition I~e of eqn (19). The possibility of buckling
is then examined by comparing pp with the buckling load parameter PB. If
the buckling load parameter PB is smaller than Pe, the plate buckles before
reaching its full plastic strength. In this case, the ultimate strength after
buckling is to be calculated.
The ultimate strength after buckling is obtained by using eqn (10) to
solve the condition l?u -- 0 of eqn (11). The ultimate strength interaction
CALCULATE PB CALCULATE Pp
EQNS(2), (3) EQN (18)
I I
_1
--] P= P+ ~p {
°txmax' ~xmin ~ EQN (161

ay max ' (Xyrain J
ru=~ 1
['u AT LONGEDGES ? E Q N (11)
Fu ATTRANS.EDGES.JI
,o@ I . I
Pu=P AT Fu = 0.0 ]
Fig. 9. Procedureof evaluation of the ultimate strength of a rectangularplate.

function Fu contains the stress coefficients ~.~ and ~:. which are given by
eqn (16) as Ctxmax,~xmin, ~,'max and ~ymin- These coefficients are substituted
into eqn (10) according to the location of yielding after buckling. The
three possible locations where the membrane stress may satisfy the yield
condition and their corresponding coefficients are shown in each case as
follows:
(1) the four corners of the plate (~.~maxand ~,,max);
(2) sides parallel to the x axis at the middle of half the buckled wave
(~xmax,~ymin);
(3) the middle of the sides parallel to the y axis (~xmi,, ~xmax).
Ultimate loads corresponding to these yielding locations are calculated
and the lowest one is taken as the ultimate strength.
In the actual process of calculation, the external load is increased
gradually. The stress coefficients and the ultimate strength interaction
function Fu at the three locations of yielding are evaluated after each load
increment. The relationship between load parameter and the value of the
ultimate strength interaction function Fu at each location is plotted as
shown in Fig. 10(a). The condition 1-'u = 0 is satisfied at the intersections
of these relationships with the ordinate axis. The smallest load at these
intersections is the ultimate strength.
5.1.2 Stiffened plates
A flow chart for this procedure is shown in Fig. 11. At first, the buckling
mode and buckling load are to be obtained from the dimensions of the
stiffened plate and the loading condition.
Tile local buckling load parameter PBI which causes buckling of plate
P Pc~
P~
CORNER
~ y=O,b
/ x:O,a
L~4,5 o " Pass
0 Fu 0 Pass
(a) (b)
Fig. !0. Itcrative procedure to calculate ultimate strength.
EQNS (2), (3) EQN (21) EONS (38), (39)

'
YES
t t
ASSUME SMALL O u r I CALCULATE Pul P = PB I
USING EQNS(34),
(34)&PROCEDURE
INSEC. 5.1.1
SET Oxmax = 0"~1N, °xmax EQN ~33d) P= P+&P
O'xmax EQN (31) EQN (31)
I b~st EQN (28)
b~ EQNS (7), (16) Pus EQN (27)
b~0 EQN (32) Pu0 EQN (29)
•% AND P = . % o ~ ,
o s EQN (33a)
PLOT Pu0 " p I
~SFIED NOTSATISFIED
Pus=P I
p,, -- M~NIPul. P~ I I
Fig. 11. Procedure to evaluate the ultimate strength of a stiffened plate.
panels between the stiffeners may be obtained as described in Section

5.1.1. The overall buckling load parameter PB0 may be obtained by
imposing the condition FB = 0 on eqn (21). At the smaller buckling load
of these two, the actual buckling occurs in the corresponding mode.
Next, the fully plastic load parameter pp is evaluated by solving eqns
(38) under the fully plastic condition of eqn (39). This load is compared
with the buckling load to classify the behaviour of the stiffened plate.
(1) Pa0 > Pp, PBt > PP

Buckling does not occur and the stiffened plate reaches its fully
plastic strength.
(2) PB0 < PBt, PB0 < PP
Overall buckling occurs and the ultimate strength is evaluated using
the equations of Section 4.1.2. The procedure for the analysis is as
shown in Section 5.1.1.
(3) Pat < PB0, Psi < PP
Local buckling occurs and the stiffened plate collapses under
concentric or eccentric compressive loading, depending upon the
type of loading.
(a) Concentric loading
There are two cases; one is where the stiffened plate collapses in the
overall mode and reaches the corresponding ultimate strength Pu0,
and the other is where the plate panels collapse locally and the
stiffened plate reaches the corresponding ultimate strength load Put-
The value OfPu0 can be obtained from eqn (29) as follows. Increasing
the load p gradually, the corresponding effective breadth may be
obtained from eqn (28). Using this effective breadth, Pus and Pu0 may be
obtained from eqn (27) and eqn (29), respectively. The effective breadth
used, however, corresponds to p. It corresponds to Pu0 only when
P = Pu0. To find this load, Pu0(=Pcal) is plotted against assumed values
o f p (=Pass) as shown by the curve in Fig. 10(b). When Pass is equal to
Pcal, P is equivalent to Pu0, which represents the ultimate strength.
On the other hand, Put can be obtained from eqn (34) or eqn (35)
under the condition Fu = 0. The procedure of analysis is as shown in
Section 5.1.1.
The smaller of Pu0 and PuJ is the actual ultimate strength.
(b) Eccentric loading
Local buckling reduces the effectiveness of plate panels, causing a
shift of the neutral axis. When the load is applied at a fixed point, an
eccentricity is produced. Ultimate strength in this case may be
obtained by the following incremental load scheme.
Assuming a small value of the mean stress O'sav acting on a stiffener
together with an effective breadth b~0' as defined in Fig. 7, the plate
stress O'xmaxand the effective breadth be' are obtained by eqn (31) with
O'*xmax = O'say and eqns (7) and (16). Next, be0' is obtained by
modifying be' using eqn (32).
Calculating the cross-sectional area of the stiffener, At, using this
b~', the axial load P of the stiffener is obtained by the equation
P ---- AT trsav.
The value of ~r~ is calculated from eqn (33) using this axial load P.
These values are examined to satisfy eqn (33b). If this equation is not
satisfied, increasing the mean stress O'sav the analysis is to be repeated
using axmax = trpl -k- v try obtained in the previous step until eqn (33b)
is satisfied. This value of P is the ultimate strength Pus.
Now, the ultimate strength function Fu (eqn (30)) may be
evaluated and the ultimate load is obtained as the value satisfying
the condition Fu = 0.
5.2 Accuracy of the present interaction relationships
The accuracy of the present ultimate strength equations is examined by

comparison with results reported in the literature.
(1) Square and rectangular plates subjected to compression in one direction
The ultimate strengths of square plates as calculated by three different

methods: the finite element method, l the combined elastic large deflection
and plastic analysis 4 and the present method, are plotted in Fig. 12.
Results obtained by the finite element m e t h o d with an initial deflection
of Wom/t --- 0-01 in the same m o d e as the buckling m o d e (to represent a
perfect plate) and the present m e t h o d applied to a rectangular plate are
plotted in Fig. 13. In the analysis by the finite element method, an initial
1.11
tO
0.8
i_ b ~1
0.6
i t :
0.4 i FEM ( NON-CONFORMING )
i
-~ F U J I T A et al.
0.2 ~ - ~ PRESENT ANALYSIS
I , I I I I I I I
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Fig. 12. Ultimate strength of square plates by different methods.

Buckl&g and ultimate strength interaction 33
E = 206,000 N/mm 2
1.0 t °° = 274.7 N/mm 2
ttm=l m=2 m=3 b = 1,000 mm

tt \ \ \ t = 12 mm
0.8
Ilmlllw~ ~ w6111
0.6
0.4
m.-- BUCKLING STRENGTH

0.2 .... ULTIMATE STRENGTH,
FEM ( Worn/t = 0.01, NON-CONFORMING )
ULTIMATE STRENGTH; PRESENT ANALYSIS
! ! I I I I I
0,5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
a/b
Fig. 13. Ultimate strength of rectangular plates.
deflection is assumed, which reduces the ultimate strength, and the aspect
ratio corresponding to the minimum ultimate strength changes. Therefore,
both FEM results and present results plotted in Fig. 13 may be regarded
to be in good agreement.
Considering both Figs 12 and 13, it may be seen that the present
method predicts the ultimate compressive strengths of square and rectan-
gular plates with good accuracy.
(2) Square and rectangular plates subjected to combined loads
The ultimate strength interaction relationship for square and rectangular

plates subjected to compression in the x direction and shear is evaluated
by the present method and compared with that obtained by the combined
elastic large deflection and plastic analysis. 4 The results are plotted in
Fig. 14.
The ultimate strength interaction relationship for square plates subjec-
ted to biaxial load is evaluated by the finite element method and the
present method. The results are plotted in Fig. 15.
(3) Stiffened plates subjected to uniaxial compression
The ultimate strengths of stiffened plates subjected to uniaxial compres-

sion are obtained by the finite element method and the present method
o 1.0 o 1.0
~o.s ~=0.8
0.6 0.6
0.4 0.4
0.2 o.2 i b/t=100~
I
i I i i i
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Ou/Oo Ou/O0
.... FUJITA,REF.4 PRESENTANALYSIS
Fig. 14. Ultimate strength of square and rectangular plates subjected to compression and
shear.
oy/o0
O FEM ~,
•
~ l ~ ' - ' ~f " = ~ ~ 1"0~ ~
206,000 N/mm2
I o0= 264.9N/mm2
Fig. 15. Ultimate strength of square plates subjected to biaxial loading.
with changing relative stiffener stiffness ratio 7. The results of both meth-
ods are plotted in Figs 16 and 17. In Fig. 16, the compressive load is
applied concentrically while in Fig. 17, eccentricity of the load is allowed
to take place though the use of a one-sided stiffener.
In Fig. 16, non-conforming elements were used in the analysis by the
1,,0
~o
E = 206,000 N/trim2
o0 = 264.9N/ram2
0,,8
0.6 (In mm) ~~~BU 0 O

CKLINGSTRENG'T~-I
0..4 0 0 0 0 0 /
,p
O FEM ( NON-CONFORMING)
0.2 PRESENTANALYSIS
•- "'~BUCKLING STRENGTH
I I I I I I I I I
0 0,2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8
Nt
Fig. 16. Ultimate strength of compressed stiffenedplates (concentric loading).
1.0
-='lhF~ E =206,000 N/ram2
~]'-- ~ ~ ~ _~_ O0= 264.9N/mm2
0.8
3.2
(in mm)
0.6
0.4
/
0.2
/" • FEM
- - - CRITERIONOF Pe REF.5
•"~-~ BUCKLING PRESENTANALYSIS
STRENGTH
I I I I I I
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
h/t
Fig. 17. Ultimate strength of compressed stiffened plates (eccentric loading).
finite element method. The inplane displacements of the edges are free,
which causes the plate strength to decrease.
Also the present method assumes an orthotropic plate for overall
buckling/overall collapse. This panel, however, has one stiffener only. This
lead,; to collapse by stiffener yielding which is not included in the treat-
ment of the stiffened plate regarded as an orthotropic plate. This explains
the deviation in the overall buckling/overall collapse range. Better agree-

ment is expected with panels having more stiffeners. G o o d agreement may
be observed in other buckling/collapse modes.
6 CONCLUSION
Rectangular unstiffened and uniformly uniaxially stiffened plates are

examined. The buckling strength, ultimate strength and fully plastic
strength are derived theoretically under inplane biaxial and shearing
forces.
Ultimate strength may be reached in one of three modes. The first is
when a stiffened plate collapses in an overall mode. The second is when
the plate collapses locally and the last is when the fully plastic strength is
attained without buckling. Interaction equations, as functions of biaxial
and shearing forces, are presented.
Comparison of the results obtained by these interaction equations with
those available in the literature indicate that these equations have suffi-
cient accuracy for practical use.
REFERENCES
!. Ueda, Y. & Yao, T. Compressive ultimate strength of rectangular plates with

initial imperfections due to welding, ist and 2nd reports, SNAJ, 148 (1980),
and 149 (198 l), respectively.
2. Valsgard, S. Numerical design prediction of the capacity of plates in biaxial
inplane compression. Computers & Structures, 12 (1980) 729-39.
3. Harding, J. E., Hobbs, R. E. & Neal, B. G. Ultimate load behaviour of plates
under combined direct and shear inplane loading. In Steel Plated Structures,
Crosby Lockwood Staples, London, UK 1977, pp. 369-403.
4. Fujita, Y. et al. Ultimate strength of flat plates subjected to combined load.
lst-3rd reports, SNAJ, 145 (1979), 146 (1979) and 149 (1981), respectively.
5. Rutledge, D. R. & Ostapenko, A. Ultimate strength of longitudinally stif-
fened plate panels. Fritz Eng. Lab. Report No. 248.24, 1968.
6. Ueda, Y. & Yao, T. Minimum stiffness ratio of stiffeners against ultimate
strength of a plate, lst-4th reports, SNAJ, 140 (1976), 143 (1978), 145 (1979),
and 148 (1980), respectively.
7. Timoshenko, S. & Gere, J. Theory of Elastic Stability. McGraw-Hill, New
York, 1961.
8. Paik, J. K. Ultimate strength analysis of ship structures by idealized struc-
tural unit method. PhD dissertation, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, 1985.
9. Ueda, Y., Rashed, S. M. H. & Paik, J. K. An incremental Galerkin method
for plates and stiffened plates. Computers & Structures, 27(I) 0987) 145-56.

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Marine Structures 8 (1995) 1-36

© 1994 Elsevier Science Limited

Buckling and Ultimate Strength Interaction in Plates and

The main portion of a ship's structure is usually composed of stiffened

The accuracy of these interaction relationships is confirmed through

Key words: interactions, buckling, ultimate strength, plate, stiffened plate,

A Cross-sectional area of a stiffener

fix, CTy Normal stresses in x and y directions,

The hull of a ship is fundamentally regarded as a thin-walled box-girder

A stiffened plate is considered as a part of a large plate structure such as a

""-- "*---Txy (Vx)

Fig. I. Stiffened plate and applied loads.

ness is D = Et3/12(I -1,'2), where E is the modulus of elasticity and v is

When the stiffened plate has a sufficiently low out-of-plane bending

0~'~ BUCKLING STRENGTH

Nxp : FULLY PLASTIC COMPRESSIVE BTRNGTH

3 BUCKLING, ULTIMATE STRENGTH AND FULLY PLASTIC

Buckling and post-buckling behaviour of a rectangular plate between

3.1 Buckling interaction

Buckling interaction relationships for a plate under a combined load of

(m2+f12) 2 a~. ~- O""v + "/7.,O, = 1. (la)

~W v"ccr / a,./a ,cr = 1. (lc)

In eqn (lc), e~ and e2 are given as follows:

several linear interaction equations, each applicable to a certain region

(;2) When Nx is compressive, and Ny is tensile (N~ > 0, N, < 0)

3.2 Ultimate strength interaction relationships and stress coefficients

3.2.1 Ultimate strength interaction relationships

Fig. 4. Stress distribution in a buckled plate.

Here, the normal stresses at each of the above-mentioned locations may

0-x)v:b'/2 (l/b') (1 + ~xmin) 0 N~

O"x O'y fix 0-), __ O'0v2

the ultimate strength interaction relationship is obtained by substituting

N, (1 + ax) + (1 + O~y) N, cp Nyp

where Nxp = b ' tao, Nyp = at ao, Vxp = at zo, Zo = ao/x/--3.

ru-- (1-+-~x) + (l+~y) " (l+~x)(l+~y)

and the ultimate strength condition is expressed as

When a rectangular plate has buckled under axial compressive forces in

~*vmin 2mab,ymax 2m2a2b '2 2( a2 + m2b'2) 2

In the above equations, when N~ or Ny is zero, the stress coefficients

O'y*)x=0 = TI2~tt-'[- 1 -q--m----~bt4r/l Naty 7c2D

¢7 , = 2Ny -- Gy* '~

3.2.3 Effect of shearing force on .stress coefficients

In the following, the effect of shearing force on stress coefficients is

Fig. 5a. Loading histories.

1.0 1.5 2.0

Fig. 5b. Effect of shear stress on stress coefficients.

compression constant and applying an increasing shearing force, the

0~xmax ~- l'62(Nxcr/N~)v 24 + ~*xmax(f(V) + 1) "~

~xmax = l'62(N,:cr/N,:)v 2"4 + ~*xmax(f(V) + 1) )

Substituting these stress coefficients into the ultimate strength interac-

3.3 Full plastic strength interaction

(b) Nx/Nxcr = 1.50 I]

(Nx) 2 (Ny) 2 NxNy (Vx'~2_l (18)

The full plastic strength condition is expressed as

4 BUCKLING, ULTIMATE STRENGTH AND FULLY PLASTIC

As indicated in Section 2, the behaviour of a stiffened plate is classified

These relationships are illustrated in Fig. 7 which indicates how to

4.1 Overall buckling followed by overall collapse (~ ~< ~Bmin)

Here, a stiffened plate is considered to be reinforced by many stiffeners.

* Depending on the combination of Oxrnax ,Oxrnin , o ymax, and Oymin .

Ev = E{1 + (nA/bt)}, Ev = E "]

where D is flexural rigidity and I is the moment of inertia of a stiffener

4.1.1 Buckling interaction relationship

When a stiffened plate is dealt with as an orthotropic plate, the buckling