Effective Breadth of Orthotropic Plates with Girders under Lateral Loads

Abstract

In this paper, the "effective breadth" of orthotropic plates with girders under lateral loads, is discussed from the viewpoint of the strength and the rigidity, respectively. Varying non-dimensional parameters that specify elastic characteristics and dimensions of plates and girders, numerical calculation is executed for some typical structures subjected to various bending loads. And effects of anisotropy of the plate on the "effective breadth" are clarified. Besides, a way of application of these results on the orthotropic plate to plate-stiffener combination system, is shown.