Full-range response of clamped ring-stiffened circular steel plates-comparisons between experiment and theory

Abstract

A new discretely stiffened plate theory for the elasto-plastic large deflection (full-range) analysis of pressure loaded ring-stiffened circular plates is introduced. Two versions of the theory have been formulate—one based on the Ilyushin full-section and the other on the von Mises layered yield constitutive equations. A few comments are included on the numerical solution of the stiffened plate equations using the Dynamic Relaxation (DR) method in conjunction with graded finite-differences. Full-range theoretical data for pressure loaded clamped ring-stiffened circular plates are generated with both the full-section and layered yield versions of the DR program. Details are then given of a test rig, its associated instrumentation and the test procedure used in carrying out uniform pressure tests on clamped ring-stiffened circular mild steel plates. Data for deflections and surface strains recorded in four tests on circular plates stiffened by a single rectangular section eccentric ring at mid-radius are compared with theoretical data derived from the DR programs in order to validate the new plate theory. It is shown that both versions of the new theory lead to accurate deflection predictions, but that only the layered yield version is able to predict surface strains accurately (especially at the plate-stiffener junction).