Optimization of welded square cellular plates with two different kinds of stiffeners

• Cellular plates constructed from two face plates and a stiffener grid were studied.
• The welded square cellular plate can be calculated as isotropic one.
• The stiffeners can be made from halved rolled I-profiles, or from welded T-sections.
• Comparison shows that the cellular plate with welded T-stiffeners is more economic.

Cellular plates are constructed from two face plates and a stiffener grid welded between them. It is shown that the square cellular plates can be calculated as isotropic ones. Therefore, the classic formulae for maximum bending moment and deflection, valid for isotropic plates, can be used. The stiffeners can be made from halved rolled I-profiles, or from welded T-sections. These two kinds of cellular plates are optimized, and their minimum volumes and costs are compared to each other. The comparison shows that the cellular plate with welded T-stiffeners is more economic.