Comparisons of calculations with experiments on the ultimate strength of wide stiffened panels

Five specimens of wide stiffened panel with four stiffeners under axial compression until collapse are studied with a nonlinear finite element analysis and Common Structural Rules to compare with the experimental results. The stiffened panel models have two longitudinal bays to produce reasonable boundary condition at the end of edges. Tension tests have been conducted to obtain the material properties of the steel that are used in the finite element analysis. Three boundary condition configurations are adopted to investigate their influence on the collapse behaviour of the stiffened panels. A displacement transducer was used to measure the initial geometrical imperfections of the stiffened plates. The collapse behaviour of the stiffened panels is analysed in finite element analysis with the measured initial imperfections and with nominal imperfections. An equivalent initial imperfection is validated for the ultimate strength of stiffened panel under compressive load until collapse for the panels under consideration. With the same imperfection amplitude, the shape of the column-type initial deflection of stiffeners affects significantly the collapse shape, but only slightly the ultimate strength and the mode of collapse of the stiffened panels. The 1/2 + 1 + 1/2 bays model with restrained boundary condition BC gives an adequate FE modelling and is possible to be fabricated in experiment. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.