OPENINGS IN THIN-WALLED STEEL STRUCTURES

A review is made of the research work that has been carried out to dat e to account for the effects of openings on the behaviour of thin-wall ed elements in steel structures. Attention is directed to relatively t hin steel plate elements typical of those that occur in plated structu res. Plate elements that are subjected to uniaxial compression or biax ial compression or shear loading, stiffened plates, shear webs and col d-formed steel sections are considered separately. Analytical and expe rimental work carried out on centrally or eccentrically placed, reinfo rced or unreinforced circular or rectangular openings are considered i n the review. Design methods of thin-walled steel structural elements that account for the presence of openings are highlighted. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.