The efficiency of three-dimensional finite element for the analysis of stiffened square plates subjected to bending and large deflection

Plates are widely used structural components in many engineering fields, making their accurate analysis crucial, particularly from an economic perspective. Experimental investigations play a key role in evaluating their performance; however, due to their high cost and practical difficulties, researchers frequently rely on approximate analytical or numerical approaches. In this study, experimental tests were performed on a thin stainless-steel plate in three configurations: a plain plate, a plate with a single stiffener, and a plate with two crossed stiffeners. Numerical simulations were carried out using the three-dimensional ABAQUS finite element “C3D8IH”. The deflection results are represented using the Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) mathematical model and compared with the corresponding experimental results. The findings confirm the high efficiency of this element in modeling and analyzing stiffened plates under both linear and nonlinear (large-deflection) behavior. Results also show that incorporating stiffeners significantly enhances the structural stiffness of plates subjected to bending, thereby reducing deflections, especially in large-deflection conditions. This work offers useful insights for future research on numerical optimization of stiffened plate designs, supporting improved structural performance and cost efficiency in engineering applications involving large-span plate structures exposed to moderate loads