Elastic tripping analysis of angle bars and permanent means of access structures

Energy method is used for tripping analysis of asymmetric stiffeners in stiffened plates. The shape of normalized warping function of stiffener is proposed as a strain distribution for sideways bending and classical plate theory is used for out-of-plane deflection. Strain distribution and elastic tripping stress of different angle bars and permanent means of access structures are calculated and compared with finite element method. It is found that for slender angle bars rigid web or flange assumption for out-of-plane deflection is justified. For angle bars proposed strain distribution based on normalized warping function and previously suggested strain distribution based on bending theory are exactly the same. However, for permanent means of access structures, the proposed strain distribution has better agreement than previously suggested strain distribution. For angle bars and permanent means of access structures with high ratio of web height to length, some discrepancy arises between proposed strain distribution and finite element method due to shear deformation.

► Proposing a strain distribution for sideways bending of asymmetric stiffeners based on normalized warping function.
► Using plate theory for out-of-plane deflection rather than usual beam theory.
► Investigating tripping of asymmetric stiffeners, including angle bars and permanent means of access structures by FEM.