Analysis of continuous steel plates subjected to uniform transverse loads

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering
• Main Authors: Ratzlaff, K. P., Kennedy, D. J. L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1985
• Subjects: General Environmental Science; Civil and Structural Engineering; Arctic; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/l85-075; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/l85-075

The economic design of steel caissons for drilling and production platforms in the Arctic Ocean, formed from steel plates and supported by a rectangular grid of stiffeners, beams, and girders, requires that the full strength of the plates be mobilized to withstand extreme ice forces. A comprehensive method of analysis is needed to describe the behaviour of continuous steel plates into the inelastic range when they are acted upon by transverse loads. From this analysis, design procedures could then be developed.An extensive literature search has not revealed that satisfactory solutions exist for the load–deflection response of transversely loaded flat plates beyond the elastic limit when both flexural and membrane action are taken into account. Experimental data available in the inelastic range of behaviour are also limited.By considering various limiting simplified behavioural modes for the load–deflection response of uniformly loaded flat plates of zero aspect ratio, possible load–deflection domains are established. The limiting responses investigated are: elastic–inelastic flexural action, elastic membrane action, inelastic membrane action with increased stiffness resulting from increased Poisson's ratio in the inelastic range, elastic flexural membrane action, and action of a fully yielded cross section in flexure that gradually gives away to a fully yielded cross section in tension. Within the domain so established, a load–deflection behaviour is proposed that is in reasonable agreement with the results of the limited test data available. The results of a finite element analysis using the ADINA computer program are also in reasonable agreement with the proposed analysis. Design applications are discussed. Key words: deflection, elastic, elastoplastic, flexural resistance, membrane force, membrane resistance, plates, steel, strains, stresses, transverse load.