Experimental behaviour of plates with and without holes subjected to localised loads

The results of an experimental investigation on square and rectangular perforated and nonperforated panels are shown. The hole is the centre of the square plates and both in the maximum and nodal point of the deformed critical shape corresponding to the first mode of deformation of the rectangular plates. Symmetrical localised loads have been applied to every panel. Both square and rectangular panels have been realised with slender and thick geometrical configurations to observe the different behaviour in elastic and plastic field. The experimental investigation has concerned, in particular, the case of square and rectangular panels with a / b λ 2 , diameter hole with d / b λ 0.5 , centred and eccentric hole for rectangular panels, slenderness λ = 50 (thick panel) and 100 (slender panel), and short length of localised load with s / a λ 0.2 s was studied. The results of the experimental tests in terms of ultimate resistance and failure mode give some elements to understand and validate the numerical results and could give some insights for a validated design basis for plate element with holes subjected to localised loads.