The primary load component treated in uniaxial compression, being most thoroughly studied through previous research, but the effect of other load components such as transverse compression, shear and lateral hydrostatic load is also discussed. A parametric study is made on the effect of initial deflections of plate and stiffener in uniaxial compression. It is concluded that a satisfactory approach for design code treatment of collapse of stiffened plates in uniaxial compression may be obtained by means of simple strut analysis of a stiffener with an effective plate width, accounting for plate buckling. The effect of other load components, however, and combinations between them, should be more thoroughly studied.