Non-linear analysis of perforated steel plates subjected to localised symmetrical load

Although the literature contains a number of studies which have been developed to describe the nonlinear behaviour of ordinary plates, few works are available on perforated plates, and studies on nonlinear behaviour of perforated plates under localised symmetrical load are not studied in depth. The aim of this paper is to provide some insights into the elasto-plastic behaviour of plate girder web panels with circular holes under localised symmetrical load. Numerical analyses of square and rectangular perforated plates with centred and eccentric holes were developed. Results provide new insights into post-critical mechanisms in perforated plates subjected to localised loads when the length of the symmetrical compressive load, hole diameter and steel yield limit vary. An increase in the critical slenderness of the plate (a value at which transition from elastic to plastic collapse occurs) and a corresponding reduction in the elastic critical load occur when the dimensions of the hole increase. A further increase in the critical slenderness occurs when the length of the localised load is reduced. High-performance steel may be subject to buckling with a lower possibility of post-critical mechanisms: a reduction in critical slenderness occurs when the steel grade increases. Lastly, numerical analyses of slender and thick perforated plates were developed and their results compared. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.