Simplified stability design method for the stiffened plate with slotted holes under uniform compression

The elastic buckling and nonlinear post-local buckling behavior of a stiffened plate with slot holes is different to that of a solid plate. As results of systematic parameter studies, design equations for calculating the elastic buckling stress of a solid plate is modified for design a stiffened plate with slot holes. Numerical simulation shows that in the post-local buckling phase, the slots cause the membrane stress redistribution and help the non-slotted region developing into a much higher stress state, which may lead to the increase in the load bearing capacity of the slotted plate. Through studying the longitudinal stress distribution along the plate width, the effective width design equation for the solid plate is also modified to account for effects of the slots. Comparisons of the effective width factor obtained from the proposed equations, previous research results and the numerical simulation show that they agree well with each other.