A NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE ULTIMATE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF DAMAGED PLATE BETWEEN STIFFENERS

In this paper, based on FEM simulation, the ultimate strength of damaged continuous plate is studied considering the combined effect of initial deflections and residual stresses. Firstly, damage is simulated resulting to residual deflection in some prescribed shape and magnitude accompanied by residual stresses. Then compressive loading is applied and the effect of simultaneous presence of both residual deflections and residual stresses on the plate ultimate strength is studied. It was found that: 1) the compressive strength may be significantly overestimated when the damage related residual stresses are not considered, 2) a larger magnitude of initial dishing does not necessary result to a lower ultimate strength.