7.8.8 Stiffener Sizing General Stiffeners are employed to resist lateral loading of the plate and are usually made from the rolled shapes integrally welded to the plate. Such stiffeners are distinct from the other slifffeners used to prevent plate buckling. Typically, stiffeners run continuously through the supporting frames, Otherwise they are referred to as “intercostal” and require special connections at each end at each frame. A summary of stiffener bending is given in fig. 7.95, the upper part showing context in the stiffened panel, between frames and uniform loading. The lower part of the figure shows the typical bending patterns and bending stresses in the stiffener/plate combination. Figure 7.96 shows some of the typical stiffeners sections used. The US Unequal angles sections are the prevalently available rolled shape in the US, but do not offer a sufficiently wide selection, particularly in the larger shapes. The T-section, while a particularly efficient shape material wise, is problematic and expensive in relation to connections and frame penetrations and prevalent only in naval construction or where special builders tooling is used, International hull construction uses both the profile section (Europe primarily) and the JIS ship angie, Both are manufactured primarily for ship construction, particularly efficient, and have distinct advantages, especially large size. The latter are distinctive in that the tall leg is thin, with the short leg thick, making an excellent flange. Tables 7.12, 7.13 and 7.14 respectively give dimensions and section properties of the US unequal angles, profiles, and JIS ship angles. The latter two include combined stiffene! plate properties as attached to 20 in. wide, 1/2 in. plate, Figure 7.97 illustrates the nota- tional conventions for the US unequal angle. The others are similar. Before proceeding, a few comments on shear-lag and the effective breadth of the plating should be made. As a flange attached to the stiffener, the bending stress in the plate is not laterally uniform (maximum at the stiffener) and can be considered as not fully effective Figure 7.98 illustrates bending stress distribution in the plate, a schematic of an equivalent uniformly stressed plate (effective breadth, 2h.), and provides notational reference.Isolated Stiffener Stiffener in Context. with Framing [ Stiffener Cobpr Tens Uniform Pressure Loading: w(x) = hs 113 1 fm SUD > - y y Midspan Moment: Mj =+1/24 hs E Moment at end (frame): My = 1/12 hs P Bending Stress: Flange: = /SM, feta Aon Plate: h,=_M/SM, i Figure 7.95 Summary of stiffener bending[LT Profile Section (or “Bulb Fiat") 80mm - 430mm Tee Section US Unequal 6-18" Angle Section (Typical: Navy) a-9" Figure 7.96 Alternative stiffener sections Tf JIS Ship Flat Bar Section Angle Section Practical Max 18° 200-400mm, Table 7.12 US Standard Unequal Leg Angles ~ with 1/2 in, plate at 20 in, width attached ‘Stiffener Section Properties w/20" x 1/2” Plate Size ds | As_| ys | Is |Istmorn |NA | Ix |SMp | SMs sxaxia” |S [194/166 | S10 | 40 (033 | 2604 | 312 | 56 57x3"x5/16" | 5 | 240 [168 | 630 55 0.44 | 30.97 | 329 | 68 3 [286 [1.70 740, 69 (0.54 | 3543 | 341 79 6 | 303/192 140) 99 0.76 | 55.00 | 43.8 | 10,5 6xd"x3/8" 6 (361 11.94 [13.50 | 122 (0.89 | 62.77 | 451 | 123 xa" x71" [6 | 4181.96 [15.50 | 144 | 1.01 | 69.75 | 461 140 xa" /2" 6 | 4.75 (1.99 [1720 | 165 | 112 | 7564 | 466 | 155 Ta’ x3/8" | 7398 (237 2060 | 159 [1.14 | 8840 | 539 151 Txa’7/16" | 7 | 462 (239 [2370 | 188 |1.29 | 9834 | S8A_| 172 Txa"xj2" 7, 5.25 [242 [2670 | 215 | 141 | 107.01 | $59 | 19.2 rxa"x 916" [7 | 587 [244 |29.60 | 243 |1.53 | 115.18 | 568 21.1 T’xa’x5i8"|7 | 648 (246 [3240 | 269 (1.63 | 122.62 | 57.5 228 grxa"xl 2” [8 [5.75 (286 3850 | 271 (1.72 | 144.56 | 65.2 | 23.0 g7xa"xo/16" [8 | 643 (288 [4280 304 (185 | 155.66 | 66.2 | 253 8’x4"x5/8” [8 [711 (291 (46.90 | 33.7 | 1.97 | 16540 | 67.0 | 274 srxa'x3a” [8 (844 [295 5490 | 401 218 | 18347 | 68.6 | 31.5 s’xa"x” [8 11.00 3.05 [69.60 | 520 1247 [211.24 | 71.0 | 38.2‘Table 7.13 Profile sections (HP) ~ with 1/2 in, plate at 20 in. width attached Profile Size; millimeters Area | Prof-NA | Prof- US Units Combined Sect w/ 1/2 in. Plate Inert @ 20 in. width Attached Depth [thick- [b+t |b |Wx,em? | ex,em | Ix, fds, [As Pys, | is, | [NA | ix |smp [sms | ax ness em! fin. | in. | in. | in | Morr 160 7 |290 [22.0 | 146 | 9.66 | 373 250 [8.96 | 61 [050 | 3928 [394 | 68 [123 io | 8 [300 [220 | 162 | 949 | ail 2.56 | 9.87 | 69 [0.55 | 41.77 | 39.8 12.5 160 9 [aro |220 | 178 | 936 | 4ae 2.61 [10.76 | 7.7 [0.00 | 44.25 | 40.2 | 128 180 s [330 [250] 189 | 10.90 | 609 2.80 [i463 [10.1 [0.78 [61.36 | 480 [9.7 [129 180 9 [340 25.0 | 20.7 | 10.20 | 663 287 |15.93 | 11.0 [0.83 [64.30 | 48.2 [103 [13.2 10 | 10 [35.0 [250] 225 | 1060 | 717 291 12.1 oso | 6782 | 48.7 [11.0 [135 180 i [360 [250 | 243 | 10.50 | 770 295 ]18.50 | 13.1 |0.95 | 71.08 | 490 | 116 [138 200 9 |370 }280 | 235 | 12.10 | 941 3.1 [22.61 | 149 [1.09 | 89.73 | 56s |13.2 [13.6 200 | 10 [38.0 |28.0 | 25.6 11.90 | 1020 3.19 [24st | 161 [115 36.7 |13.9 | 140 200 11/390 j28.0 | 27.6 | 1L80 | 1090 3.23 [26.19 | 174 [1.22 ST [147 |143 200 12 40.0 | 28.0 29.6 11.70 1164 3.27 18.6 | 1.28 57.5 |15.5 }14.6 20 10 [aro [310 | 290 | 13.40 | 1400 3.39 212 [1.46 654 [178 [145 220 1/420 [31.0 | 312 | 1320 | 1500 3.46 [36.04 | 22.6 | 1.53 65.5 | 18.6 | 148 220 12/430 [310 | 334 | 13.00 | 1590 3.54 [38.20 240 | 1.58 656 [19.3 ]152 240 to [440 |340 | 324 | 14.70 | 1865 3.66 [44.81 | 26.6 |1.77 735 [21.7 |150 240 rr |45.0 [340 | 349 | 14.60 | 2000 3.70 [48.05 | 28.6 | 1.86 |174.39 | 74.0 |23.0 | 15.4 240 12 |460 [340 | 373. | 1440 [2130 3.78 [51.17 | 303 [1.92 [179.53 [742 [238 [iss‘Table 7.13 Continued Profile Size; millimeters Area] Prof-NA | Prof- US Units Combined Sect w/ 1/2 in. Plate Inert @ 20 in. width Attached Depth [thick [b+t{ b |Wa,em? | exvom | x, [ds | As [ys | is | 1 [NA] tex [SMp [SMs | Ax ness 1 em* | in. | in, | in | in* | Morr 260, a 48.0 |37.0 38.7 16.00 2606 6.00 | 3.94 | 62.61 35.3 |2.21 | 223.43 | 82.6 | 27.8 | 16.0 260 | 12 [490/370] 413 | 1580 [2770 6.40 [4.02 | 66.55 | 37.3 |2.28 |229.96 | 82.9 164 680 |409 | 70.63 | 39.3 |2.34 | 236.06 | 83.2 168 | 260 13, | 50.0 (37.0 | 43.9 15.60 | 2940 6.60 |4.17 | 80.10 | 42.7 |2.57 |280.60 | 91.3 | 33.2 | 16.6 280 1 | S10 42.6 17.40 | 3334 280 12 | 520 45.5 17.20 | 3550 7.05. |4.25 | 85.29 | 45.3. |2.65 |289.20 | 91.7 171 280 13. | 53.0 48.3 17.00 | 3760 |11.0 | 7.49 |4.33 | 90.33 | 47.6 |2.72 |296.71 | 92.1 175 300 mM | 54.0 45.7 18.90 | 4194 [11.8 | 7.08 |4.37 | 100.76 | 50.2 |2.94 | 346.02 | 100.6 71 300 12 155.0 7.10 [4.45 |107.18 | 54.2 |3.06 |359.32 [100.9 41.1 | 17.7 49.7 | 18.70 | 4461 300 13, 56.0 s28 | 1830 | 4720 8.18 (4.53 113.40 | 57.1 (3.14 [368.83 [101.3 [425 | 18.2 300 14 [570 55.8 18.30 | 4980 8.65 [4.01 |119.64 | 59.8 [3.21 3 101.8 [43.9 [18.6 320 | 12. {580 s42_| 2010 | 5528 8.40 [4.69 [132.81 3.48 [437.06 |109.9 [47.9 [18.4 320 | 13. [590 j400| 574 | 19.90 | 5852 8.90 [4.76 |140.59 3.56 [448.33 | 110.5 [49.6 | 18.9 320 14 [600 [46.0] 60.7 | 19.70. | 6170 941 [4.84 | 148.23 3.63 [458,94 [111.1 | 91.2 [19.4 320 | 15/610 [4.0 | 639 | 19.50 | 6480 9.90 [4.92 [155.68 3.69 [408.38 [111.7 | 526 |19.9| 340 | 12 [61.0 |49.0) 588 | 21.50 | 6761 9.11 ]4.92 | 162.43 3.91 [524.55 [119.1 | 55.3 }19.1 340 13, [620 | 49.0 21.30 | 7156 9.64 |5.00 | 171.92 538.00 {119.8 | 57.3 [19.6 340 | 14 |63.0 [49.0] 65.5 | 21.10 | 7539 | 10.15 |5.08 | 181.13 550.01 | 120.6 | 9.0 |20.2 340 15 [640 [490 | 689 20.90 | 7919 10.68 [5.16 | 190.25 561.48 | 121.3 | 60.7 | 20.7‘Table 7.14 JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) Ship Angles (leg and flange unequal) Section Dimensions, | Thickness, | Area | Prof | Prof- US Units Combined Section w) 1/2 in. Plate mm mm NA | Inert @ 20 in, width Attached | millimeters Depth | Flange | Long |Short| Wx, | ex. | Ix, [ds | As. Pys,] is, | 1m [NA] ix [SMp][SMs| Ax | leg | leg | em? | cm | cm‘ | in. | in. | in. | int | Morr ‘Angles, Constant Thickness : 200x90x8/14 | 200 | 90.0 | s | 14 ]27.80[13.98] 1120 | 787 | 431 [2.37| 26.91 | 20.7 [1.27] 131.88] 74.5 |200]163 200x90%9/14 | 200 | 90.0 | 9 | 14 |29.66) 13.64) 1210 | 7.87 | 4.60 |2.50{ 29.07 | 21.7 [1.31 | 134.06] 74.2 | 20.4 | 16.6 2s0x90x9/14 | 250 | 90.0 | 9 | 14 [34.31] 16.54) 2240 | 9.84 | 5.32 [3.33] 53.82 | 31.6 | 1.83]222.30) 956 | 27.7] 173 250 x 90x 9/15 250 9.0 9 15 | 35.12] 16.64} 2270 | 9.84 | 5.44 | 3.29] 54.54 | 32.7 | 1.87 221.76 | 96.0 | 28.6 17a 2s0x90x1915 | 250 | 90.0 | 10 | 15 [37.47] 1639] 2440 | 9.84 | 5.81 [3.39] 58.62 | 345 |1.94] 234.45] 96.2 [29.7] 178 250x90<11/16 | 250 | 90.0 | 1 | 16 [40.1 |16.26| 2640 | 9.84 | 6.29 [3.44] 63.43 | 37.3 [2.04] 240.10] 969 [31.5 | 18.3 | 250x90x17/16 | 250 | 90.0 | 12 | 16 [42.95| 16.01 | 2790 | 9.84 | 6.66 | 3.54] 67.03 | 39.0 [2.09|250.91| 96.9 | 32.4 | 18.7 30x9010/16 | 300 | 90.0 | 10 | 16 | 43.38) 19.40] a100 [ 11.81! 6.72 14.17] 98.50 | 48.4 [2.58] 366.62 | 118.9 | 30.7 | 18.7 30090 11/16 300 90.0 I 16 | 46.22} 19.00} 4470 | 11.81 | 7.16 | 4.33) 107.39} 50.6 | 2.64 | 375.46 | 119.6 | 40.9 | 19.2 300x90x12/17 | 300 | 90.0 [12 | 17 [49.84] 18.90] 4590 [1181] 7.73 [437] 110.28] 545 |2.76/388.27| 119.0 42.9 |197| 300x90%13/17 | 300 | 900 | 13 | 17 [52.67] 1870] av40 [11.81] 8.16 )445 [118.68 | 57.1 [2.83 400.21 |120.1 | 44.6 |20.2 ssox1o0x11/17_ | 350 | 100.0 | 11 | 17 | 4.4 [22.30] 7030 | 13.8 | 8.43 | 5.00] 168.90] 71.0 [3.48] 572.71 144.0 | 55.6 [20.41 350% 100 12/17 350 100.0 12 17 57.7 | 22.00) 7440 | 13.8 | 8.95 | 5.12] 178.75 | 74.5 | 3.56 | 585.85 | 144.4 | 57.3 400x100%11.5/18| 400 | 100.0 | 11.5 | 16 | 61.1 |24.70| 10300] 15.7 | 9.47 |6.02| 247.46] 89.1 | 4.15) 774.02 | 166.5 | 66.7 400%100%12/18 | 400 | 100.0 | 12 | 18 | 648 [24.90] 10900 | 15.75] 10.04 | 5.94] 261.87] 95.4 | 4.331 814.32 | 168.6] 71.3 400x100%13/18 [| 400 [100.0 | 13 | 18 | 686 [2460] 11500] 13.7 10.63 6.06 [276.29 | 100.0 [442 [832.71 | 169.3] 73.5Given Stiffener Properties: Ay In J, Figure 7.97 Notation for stiffener properties (US Unequal Leg Angles) Effective A, =2,, Effective Section Frame Sffective half-breadth sf plate, b, Figure 7.98 Effective breadth of plating with stiffeners08 +— .— —— s \_At Stiffener Ends ? 8 eo ey = 5 Effective Spans - Uniform Loading o 2 4 6 8 7 82 «614 61820 Figure 7.99 Effectiveness ratio, p, of attached plating for stiffeners (Mid span and Ends) Figure 7.99 is a plot of the effectiveness of the plate (p= ,/4) as a function of the ratio of the effective span (cL) to the breadth of the panel (b=5/2). Pending a more complete discussion of shear-lag, ¢= 0.577 for mid-span locations and c=0.423 at the stiffener ends What is important is that in most instances | > 4 s and most of the plate is effective. Finally, it should be noted that, even if the effective breadth is small, the neutral axis of the combined section is very close to the plate, This makes section modulus at the flange relatively insensitive to the accuracy of the effective plate area. The upper part of fig. 7.100 shows the neutral axis as a function of effective breadth for a typical case. The lower plot shows the resulting section modulus, SM;as a function of effectiveness, p from 0.4 to 1.0. "M; is no less than 80% of its maximum value, The point is that it is of relatively little consequence for stiffener design that shear lag is ignored and the properties of the combined section are calculated on the basis of the full width of the plating, s. For marginal cases, this should be re-examined, however, For design, the classification rule-based stiffener sizing criteria are given as formulae for the section modulus of the stiffener and plate combination, SM,without consideration of shear lag effects. The formulae are essentially based upon beam flexure as outlined above. The DaV formulation uses a specific allowable stress and the ABS formulation does not and is empirical. These are for minimum scantlings only. The shell plating stiffeners tend to be larger in areas of high global stress both to increase section (in lieu of thicker plating) and to improve stiffener buckling resistance. ABS Criteria ‘As noted with plating, the ABS rules give two general cases. For the most general case (Tanks), stiffener scantlings are given in Paragraph 9.5 (Stiffeners and Beams). For theWand d= NA : Sten ta ou on ‘ 5 : —— FSi [— =| 3 3 g g 5 5 0} B Effectiveness, A Figure 7.100 Stiffener neutral axes and section modulus variation with effective breadth of platespecial cases governed by watertight integrity, in Paragraph 7.5 (Stiffeners and Beams), the same expression is given, but the coefficient values are different. The required, minimum section modulus is given as follows (metric, US units): SM =fehs FQ: (em? ; in.) (7.63) where [metric (US)] /=7.8 (0.0041 iffener spacing (m, ft), /=effective stiffener span (m, f0), =the specified design head (discussed earlier) taken at stiffener mid span (m, ft), The constant c is specifically discussed below. The factor Q is material constant adapted from the Ship Rules and is not given in the MODU Rules. It is also discussed below. The section modulus, $M, taken to the stiffener flange, is computed on the basis of an integral section, taking both the stiffener and the full width (s) of the attached plating, However, the rules note that, for short panels (J's < 4), a lesser effective breadth of the plate, s- should be determined according to shear lag theory (at J/s <4, se’s < 0.80). Because the stiffener-plate combination typically produces a quite unbalanced section, accurate effective plate area has minimal effect on the section modulus. Typically the stiffener flange is 3-times or more distant from the neutral axis as is the plate, making bending stress in the plate of little consequence. Even at /'s =3, the effective breadth is still 0.65 and using the full plate width would still be of little serious consequence. In any case. the combination of global in-plane stresses from that of local bending is still required to be checked when the former is high. Often, in such cases, there is sufficient global compression that buckling will govern. When the buckling controls, the plate effectiveness is also reduced, The factor c represents stiffener end fixity and the stress pattern of the specific application, Although the Ship Rules have a number of specific cases represented, the MODU Rules give primarily two sets of factors: ¢ Tank boundaries and shell (9.5): ¢ = 1.00, both ends fixed or continuous c .90, terminated with clip or bracket ¢ Waterlight subdivision (7.5) ¢ = 0.60, no end attachments ¢ = 0.56, ends attached to clips or brackets In the most general situation, shell plating, and tank boundaries (3-2-2/9.5), stiffeners run continuously through the frames and are considered to function as a series of fixed-fixed beams (¢ = 1.0). However, where this pattern ends (at a deck, flat or bulkhead), the stiffener is terminated by a brackei or clip and is considered to have less bending moment (¢=0.9), In the case of internal, watertight subdivision (3-2-2/7.5), the factors reflect that strength being a damage issue, ie. internal flooding. Further to the above, non-watertight flats and decks are addressed in Subsection 3. Paragraph 7.3 (Upper Structure), where ¢=0.6, clear of tanks, and c= 1.0 in way of tanks. The latter is simply a reiteration of tank boundary requirements. Otherwise, c=0.6 is taken in association with a non-tank loading, k specific to the flat or deck. The rules also give a number of comments regarding the determination of effective span, /. Unless effective brackets or clips are used, the effective span is the centre-to-centre distancebetween supports, However, the effective span may be reduced according to the effectiveness of the brackets meeting criteria specified in the Rules. With brackets meeting requirements of table 3/5,2 (ABS MODU Rules, 2001), the effective span may be reduced by 75% of the bracket length. Of the various specific application in the Ship Rules that uniquely give a value for e, the one for bottom plating of a longitudinally stiffened ship gives c= 1.30. Where otherwise 1.0 this factor empirically recognises that bottom stiffeners are part of the overall hull section modulus and will sustain considerable global axial stress over and above that of local bending. A non-documented, but very useful practice, for preliminary design for ofTshore structures is to use a value of ¢ from I to 1.3 for shell stiffeners of primary hull elements where they are known to have a high global strength role. This is the ease for parts of pontoons and columns. These have a global loading pattern quite similar to that found in ship hulls: hydrostatic load of stiffeners, participating in longitudinal strength. Using a higher value of ¢ will anticipate the added stiffener section area needed to sustain global hull bending stress and buckling and improve the prospects that sizes chosen in preliminary design will indeed be adequate ‘The Ship Rules employ a multiplier “Q” to reflect the benefits of high tensile steels. This can be used for offshore structures as well but lias not been widely incorporated in to the MODU Rules. Taken as unity for mild steel, various values are specified for high tensile steels. Taking HT36 grade steels (Fy = 51 ksi), for example, Q = 0.72. High tensile steels are prevalently used for the more highly loaded portions of the hull. Asa rule of thumb, for hull plating, where mild steel thickness would exceed 5/8 in., high tensile steel should be used. If buckling controls, the threshold might better be 3/4 in. In any case, for thickness in excess of 3/4 in., high tensile steels should be used. The minor additional cost of the higher grade steel is more than offset by reduced welding of thinner sections, not to mention larger, fewer modules for a given lift limit. Conversely, high tensile steels should generally not be used for thickness less than 1/2 in, as much as buckling will control and little benefit of the higher yield strength will be achieved. With regard to the ABS Rules and considerations of corrosion protection, Paragraph 3-2-2/14, Scantlings and Corrosion Control indicates that rule based scantlings include a corrosion allowance in as much as it addresses reduction of scantlings. It indicates that scantlings may be reduced should suitable corrosion protection be provided. Conversely, this paragraph also indicates, that, should corrosion protection not be provided, stress- based calculation should consider the ner section with a suitable reduction. This would apply only to the stiffener’s role in global strength.