Influence of longitudinal stiffeners on elastic stability of girder webs

In this paper, linear buckling analyses of plates with longitudinal stiffeners having various shapes and positions and subjected to axial force, in-plane bending and shear are developed. The aim is to give some new practical insights about the shape and optimum position of longitudinal stiffener in webs when axial force, bending moment and shear act. By means of a comprehensive numerical investigation, some practical issues for buckling phenomena in stiffened plates, taking into account (a) dimensions and shape (square and rectangular) of the plate, (b) dimensions and shape of the stiffener (with open and closed cross-sections), (c) location of the stiffener, and (d) load configuration (uniform compression, pure bending, combinations of axial compression and bending, and shear) are developed. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.