LARGE-DEFLEXION BEHAVIOUR OF SHIP PLATE PANELS UNDER NORMAL PRESSURE AND IN-PLANE LOADING.

A finite difference analysis has been used to study the effects of loading, initial deformation and boundary restraints, on the behavior of square and rectangular plates. It is concluded that when initial deformation is taken into account membrane stresses can have a significant effect on the behavior of plates of practical dimensions. Depending on the magnitude and shape of the deformation, the in-plane stiffness may be reduced by as much as 30%. The stress distribution is shown to be greatly affected by the extensional as well as the flexural boundary conditions. Some biaxial thrust cases are considered; the results throw some light on the behavior of bottom plating and illustrate the well known advantage of longitudinal framing.