University of Alexandria Dept.

of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

CHAPTER 7 ORTHOGONALLY STIFFENED PLATES

7.1 Shear Lag

Simple beam theory assumes that plane cross-sections remain plane, and that
therefore the bending stress is directly proportional to the distance from the neutral
axis ( = M.y / I ). Thus in any flange-and-web type of beam, the stress should be
constant across the flanges. In most cases, we dont have pure moments at the ends
of the beam, but rather vertical loads and these loads are absorbed by the web.

Figure 7.1 Shear in box girders

In Figure (7.1) the box girder is loaded by a vertical force F. The force will be carried
by the webs which will deflect such that the upper and lower edges of the web are
elongated and shortened, respectively. At the upper edge the elongated web pulls
the plating with it through shear forces resulting in shear stresses in the flange.
The result will be a shear distortion in the flange. Due to shear effects, the bending
stress away from the web will lag behind the stress near the web, see Figure (7.2).

Figure 7.2 Shear lag

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Shear lag occurs in any wide-flanged section that carries a lateral load. The shear
lag effect is very important in the consideration of the effective breadth of plating in
local strength problems.
Consider an open section, such as the standard single web beam of Figure (7.3).
Here, the outer edges of the flange are less effective. (B = distance between webs)

Figure 7.3 Shear lag effect for an open section

7.2 Effective Breadth

Instead of using the mean value of the flange stress, the value of the maximum
stress is used in association with an effective breadth of flange, be , defined as:

The breadth of plating which, when used in calculating the moment of inertia of the
section, will give the correct maximum stress max at the junction of web and flange,
using simple beam theory.
b
be max = x dx , or
0
b
1
be = x dx
max 0

Schade (1951) obtained curves for the calculation of effective breadth ratio, be/b,
against cL/B for different cases. Schades curves are shown in Figures (7.4), (7.5)
and (7.6). The different load cases taken into account are:
(a) Uniform load.
(b) Sine load.
(c) Concentrated load (point load at center).

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Figure 7.4 Effective breadth ratio for case I (single web)

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Figure 7.5 Effective breadth ratio for case II (double web)

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Figure 7.6 Effective breadth ratio for case III (multiple webs)

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Figure (7.7) shows the different load distributions used to obtain the coefficient c,
where L = cL is the distance between points of zero bending moment.
In the case of central load, be/b will depend on a non-dimensional coefficient (not
to be confused with plate slenderness parameter).

1 Htw
= , for identical lower and upper flanges
6 bt

1 Htw
= , for single flange
4 bt

Figure 7.7 Coefficient c

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

7.3 Orthotropic Plate Theory

Figure 7.8 Loads on element of orthotropic plate

zx and zy are the distances from NAx and NAy , respectively. w is the deflection of
NAx and NAy . rx1 and rx 2 are distances from NAx to the extreme fibers. ry1 and ry 2
are distances from NAy to the extreme fibers.

w w
u = zx v = zy
x y
u 2w v 2w u v 2w
x = = zx 2 y = = zy 2 = + = (zx + zy )
x x y y y x xy

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Substituting, taking equilibrium and accounting for shear stress effects as in the
case of isotropic plates; the field equation for the orthotropic plate is obtained.

Field Equation:
The equilibrium or field equation in the case of orthotropic plates is:
4w 4w 4w
Dx + 2 H + Dy =p (1)
x 4 x 2 y 2 y 4
where Dx , Dy and H are the rigidity parameters.

Figure 7.9 Stiffened Panel

Ei x Ix
Dx = where i x =
(
1 2 ) Sy
Ei y Iy
Dy = where i y =
(1 ) 2
Sx

Ix and Iy are the moments of inertia of the stiffeners with effective plating extending
in the x- and y- directions, respectively.

H = 2 Dx Dy

is called the torsional stiffness parameter and may be obtained from:

1
I I 2

= px py

Ix Iy

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

where I px and I py are moments of inertia of the effective plating alone associated
with stiffeners extending in the x- or y-direction, respectively, about the neutral axis
of the entire section.

Equation (1) is for the case of lateral pressure. If the plate is now considered to carry
a uniaxial compressive load Nx per unit length in the x-direction, we shall obtain the
following field equation:
4w 4w 4w 2w
Dx 4 + 2 H 2 2 + Dy 4 = N x 2 (2)
x x y y x
The critical buckling stress is:
2 (Dx Dy ) 2
1

cr = K (3)
tx B2
For A/B 1 : K = 4.0
1
For A/B < 1 : K = 2 + 2 + 2

is called the virtual aspect ratio and may be obtained from:
1
A D 4
= y (4)
B Dx

7.4 Design of orthogonally stiffened panels

(a) Panel subjected to lateral pressure:

It is possible to use a deflection criterion, or a stress criterion. If a deflection criterion

is chosen, the maximum elastic deflection at the center for the simply supported
orthogonally stiffened plate can be calculated from:
pB 4
w =
Dy
where the non-dimensional coefficient depends on the virtual aspect ratio as
shown in Figure (7.10). The maximum elastic deflection may not exceed an
allowable deflection, wall .

If a stress criterion is chosen, the stresses should be checked at both the stiffeners
free flange and in the plate field and should satisfy Von Mises equation:
e = x2 + y2 x y + 3 xy
2
yield

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

Figure 7.10 Deflection coefficient for orthogonally stiffened panel

To ensure elastic behaviour:

e = x2 + y2 x y P
P = proportional limit 0.5 yield

The following formulae may be used to obtain x and y :

1
D 2 2
Mx = x pB and M y = pB 2 , in the stiffeners free flange.
D
y
1
D 2 2
M x = ' x pB and M y = ' pB 2 , where
D
y

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

1 1
Dx 2 Dx 2

' = + 0 .3 and ' = + 0.3 , in the plate field.
D
y Dy
The nondimensional coefficients and depend on the virtual aspect ratio and the
torsional coefficient as shown in Figure (7.11).

The stresses x and y are determined from:

M x Sy r x M y S x ry
x = and y =
Ix Iy

Mx and My are moments per unit length.

rx and ry are distances from NAx and NAy respectively to the outer fiber of the flange
(for the flange stress) or of the plate (for the plate field stress).

Figure 7.11 Coefficients for computing stresses for orthogonally stiffened panels

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University of Alexandria Dept. of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Instructor: H. W. Leheta

(b) Panel Subjected to uniaxial compression:

Equation (3) is used to calculate the critical buckling stress for orthogonal panels. In
the elastic range, it is enough to ensure that:
cr P

To ensure that no buckling occurs:

a cr
a = acting stress

Note
tx is the equivalent thickness of the plate and the stiffeners (diffused) extending in
the x-direction.
shaded area
tx =
B

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