Experimental and numerical studies on the response of quadrangular stiffened plates. Part I: subjected to uniform blast load

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, single, double, cross and double cross), subjected to blast loading. Part I studies the response of plates to uniform blast loading, while Part II examines the response to localised blast loading. 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 consisted of adiabatic analysis of a 14 symmetry plate model using ABAQUS/Explicit 5.8. Both temperature-dependent material properties and strain rate sensitivity are included in the numerical modelling. Large inelastic deformation is well predicted for the various stiffener configurations and sizes for both maximum displacement and deformation shape. Tearing is predicted by high-temperature bands.