Experimental investigation of stability and post buckling behaviour of stiffened curved plates

A series of nineteen flat and curved plates having stiffeners of rectangular cross-section have been tested in compression. Measurements made of initial buckling stress and effective widths subsequent to buckling were consistent with previous work. The ultim ate strength of the plates was found, to increase markedly with curvature, the rate of increase depending on the ratio of stringer spacing to plate thickness.