BEHAVIOUR OF STIFFENED PANEL SUBJECTED TO LATERAL LOADING

Abstract

Stiffened panels are generic structural elements in weight sensitive structural elements such as long span girders, aerospace structures, ship deck hulls and super structure of offshore platforms. These panels are becoming increasingly used in structural applications because of their high specific stiffness and high specific strength. Composite materials are ideal for structural applications where high stiffness - to weight and high strength to weight ratios are required as compared to conventional structural elements like steel, aluminium and other type of metals. In this report laminated composite stiffened panels are used to gain the advantage of both stiffened panels and laminated composites. This report is limited to analysis of composite stiffened panels subjected to lateral loading alone. Effects of orthotropy ratio, aspect ratio and patch load size on the moment distribution pattern and deflection of the laminated composite stiffened panels are shown. Information that can be utilized by the designers regarding orthotropy ratio, optimum depth of the stiffeners and suitable aspect ratio for different patch load sizes are given.