CRITICAL BUCKLING STRESS OF CASTELLATED WEB PLATES UNDER LINEARLY VARYING UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different parameters on both elastic and inelastic critical buckling stresses of castellated web plates. These parameters are: plate aspect ratio, perforations shape (circular or rectangular), edge distance to first perforation, perforation spacing, perforation dimensions, plate slenderness ratio and initial web imperfection. Structural models have been established based on the finite element method, where linear and nonlinear finite element analyses (FEA) have been performed using ANSYS software. The interaction between the web plate and the flanges has been approximately modeled as simply supported edges for the web plate. The web plates have been subjected to linearly varying in plane uniaxial compression with different load cases ranging between uniform compression and pure bending. The FEA results have been verified against those of experimental and numerical results in the literature. Hence, critical slenderness ratio has been indicated as a boundary between elastic and inelastic behavior of castellated web plates. Moreover, the variation of both elastic and inelastic critical buckling stresses versus different parameters and material prosperities has been reported