A semi-analytical method for the elastic–plastic large deflection analysis of stiffened panels under combined biaxial compression/tension, biaxial in-plane bending, edge shear, and lateral pressure loads

In the earlier publications [Paik JK, Thayamballi AK, Lee SK, Kang SJ. A semi-analytical method for the elastic-plastic large deflection analysis of welded steel or aluminium plating under combined in-plane and lateral pressure loads. Thin-Walled Struct 2001;39;125–52; Paik JK, Thayamballi AK. Ultimate limit state design of steel-plated structures. Chichester: Wiley; January 2003], the author presented a semi-analytical method for the elastic–plastic large deflection analysis of unstiffened plates under biaxial loads, edge shear, biaxial in-plane bending and out-of-plane (lateral) pressure loads until the ultimate strength is reached. In the present paper, a similar method is applied to stiffened panels subjected to the same type of loading. The effect of initial imperfections in the form of initial deflection and welding residual stresses is accounted for in the calculations. The validity of the developed method is demonstrated by comparing with existing theoretical and numerical results where relevant. The present theory can be useful for ultimate strength analysis of plates and stiffened panels made of steel or aluminium alloys.