An experimental and numerical investigation on buckling strength assessment of perforated plates under combined in-plane loads

Openings and cut-outs are widely used in ship structures for inspection, maintenance, service purposes, and lightning of the structure, reducing the buckling strength of the plates. This paper presents linear and elastic buckling analyses of the perforated plates, located in the double bottom floor of a container ship, under mutual interaction of both geometric discontinuities (opening and cut-outs) and subjected to combined in-plane loads (longitudinal compression, transverse compression, biaxial compression, and in-plane edge shear loading). A series of experimental and numerical analyses are undertaken on perforated plates under the determination of the influence of different stiffening methods, their relation to the load condition and different values of the plate slenderness ratio. The most effective stiffening method is obtained and alternative geometries that optimize the weight of the structure are proposed by means of topology optimization. The results shown are useful for understanding this structural failure and provide design and recommendation guidelines, improving the quality of the hull inspections and the ability to evaluate the structural defects.