Improved design formulas for the ultimate strength of platings with circular openings and manholes under uniaxial compression

The paper focuses on the ultimate strength of perforated platings with circular openings and manholes, eventually reinforced by ringed or carling stiffeners, in order to develop a comprehensive and rationale format, useful to assess the ultimate capacity of perforated plate panels under uniaxial compression. In this respect, a large number of FE simulations is performed by Ansys Mechanical APDL, in order to provide new design formulas for the ultimate strength of platings with circular openings or manholes and, subsequently, for perforated plate panels reinforced by local stiffeners. The design formulas are developed by properly varying the opening size and the scantlings of ringed or carling stiffeners, in order to provide a comprehensive set of design curves. Hence, the incidence of the opening longitudinal position on the ultimate capacity of perforated platings, without and with local stiffeners, is also investigated. Finally, the proposed equations are applied in a straightforward design example. Based on current results, the new design formulas allow a reliable assessment of the ultimate capacity of platings with circular openings or manholes and the incidence of local stiffeners on the plating ultimate strength, so providing a rationale design format that could be easily embodied in current Rules and guidelines.