A rational design model for transverse web stiffeners

Existing design methods for web stiffeners differ widely in concept and in the stiffener size which results. An investigation has been conducted to provide a rational, usable and validated design method for transverse stiffeners. The proposed design method takes account of the axial compression in stiffeners caused by tension field action and external forces, the transverse forces on the stiffeners required to enforce effective division of the web plate, and the tendency for the stiffened plate to buckle overall. Design criteria are established to ensure that the resulting stiffeners do not yield before plate failure, and that the plating is effectively divided into panels. The transverse stiffener dimensions required by the proposed design model have been validated against finite element results for plates subjected to pure shear, and to combined shear and direct in-plane loading. Finally, the stiffener sizes are compared with those required by the existing methods.