Experimental and numerical studies on the response of quadrangular stiffened plates. Part II: localised blast loading

This two-part article presents the results of experimental and numerical work on the response of built-in mild steel quadrangular plates with different stiffener configurations (unstiffened (flat), single (S), double (D), cross (C) and double cross (DC)) subjected to blast loading. Part I reports on the response of these plates to uniform blast loading while localised blast loading is examined in Part II. The approach in both studies is similar—experimental results obtained from blast tests using a ballistic pendulum are presented and compared with finite element simulations. The numerical approach consists of adiabatic analyses of 14 symmetry plate model using ABAQUS/Explicit version 5.8. Temperature-dependent material properties, as well as strain-rate sensitivity, are included in the numerical modelling. Large inelastic deformation is well predicted for the various stiffener configurations and size for both maximum deflection and deformation shape. Tearing is predicted by high-temperature bands.