Post-buckling behaviour and strength of multi-stiffened aluminium panels under combined axial compression and lateral pressure

This paper presents the results of complementary numerical study done in the continuation of the activities carried out by the Committee III.1 “Ultimate Strength” of ISSC'2003 (Ref. [28] ).The main focus of the paper concerns the post-buckling behaviour and strength characteristics of the aluminium multi-stiffened panels under combined axial compression and lateral pressure.The finite element model proposed by the Committee III.1 “Ultimate Strength” of ISSC'2003 is used in the present investigation. Material is aluminium alloy AA6082-T6 and the multi-stiffened panel is a triple-span structure. Stiffeners are of either extruded or non-extruded angle-bar profiles. An initial deflection is imposed on the model in a procedure similar to that applied by the Committee III.1. General purpose finite element code ANSYS is used for non-linear elastic–plastic analyses.Main objectives are to study the influence of initial deflections and also HAZ on the post-buckling behaviour and collapse characteristics of aluminium stiffened panels under combined axial compression and lateral pressure. Different values of lateral pressure are exerted on the model in a systematic manner to simulate various levels of lateral pressure loading on multi-stiffened aluminium panels used in the construction of high-speed crafts.