Bending experiments on reinforced circular thin plates under uniform pressure

Circular thin plates are extensively found in numerous types of engineering applications. Nonetheless, there have been few experimental studies investigating the real behavior of reinforced circular plates under uniform loading. Present work empirically studies buckling/failure behavior of uniformly loaded, circumferentially reinforced circular plates with clamped brims. To this end, a number of locally thickened/stiffened circular steel plates were tested under uniform pressure. Obtained findings were processed to examine the structural behavior of such structures. In addition, results were verified by FE analysis of corresponding tested models. Acceptable agreement was ultimately detected between both experimental and numerical results which were basically aimed at generalizing the behavior of circular plates in full scale within the range of the current work.

► Strengthening of clamped circular plates appreciably increased the bending capacity.
► Stable post-buckling response was detected in all the present specimens.
► Strengthening could make the post-buckling response more stable.
► Sine-wave shaped buckles were detected circumferentially in the boundary zone.
► Acceptable consistence was obtained comparing the tests with the FE results.