ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates numerically a plate with an opening subjected to a compressive load based on a finite element (FE) model, which is calibrated and validated based on a recently performed experimental test. The uniaxial compressive load is applied along the short edges and the unloaded edges are free to rotate and translate. Experimentally, a series of tests have been carried out by U. N. Kim et al. for plates and stiffened panels with an opening subjected to an axial compressive loading. A FE model of a plate with an opening is created and extensive nonlinear FE analyses are performed to find out the most appropriate configurations of the model by calibrating the initial imperfection, mesh density and boundary conditions. The plate specimens were a part a box girder, which was initially tested in a corrosive environment. The calibrated model has been validated based on the experimental results on a plate with an elliptical opening, showing a good agreement.
