ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF UNIFORMLY COMPRESSION EDGE-STIFFENED THIN-WALLEDSECTIONS

This paper reports an investigation into the collapse behaviour of uni formly compressed edge-stiffened thin-walled sections. The term 'edge stiffener' refers to a stiffener in the form of a single or double rig ht-angled lip formed at the free edge of the unstiffened element. The primary function of the edge stiffener is to economically enhance the local buckling of an open thin-walled section. An outline of a series of tests on edge-stiffened thin-walled sections of various geometries is given. Design procedures are proposed based on the modifications of the draft Eurocode to predict the ultimate strength of such edge-stif fened thin-walled sections. The empirical results obtained are then co mpared with existing experimental results, and close agreement is foun d. A further comparison with an independent source of experimental res ults confirms the rationality of the approach.