Question

Which of the following statement is correct?

(a) stiffened elements are supported along one edge perpendicular to axial stress

(b) un-stiffened elements are supported along one edge perpendicular to axial stress

(c) stiffened elements are supported along one edge parallel to axial stress

(d) un-stiffened elements are supported along one edge parallel to axial stress

The question was posed to me in examination.

This intriguing question originated from Local Buckling of Plates in chapter Plastic and Local Buckling Behaviour of Steel of Design of Steel Structures

Answer 1

Correct choice is (d) un-stiffened elements are supported along one edge parallel to axial stress

Best explanation: Unstiffened elements are supported along one edge parallel to axial stress (eg : legs of single angles, flanges of beams, and stems of T-section). Stiffened elements are supported along both the edges parallel to axial stress (eg: flanges of square and rectangular hollow sections, perforated cover plates, and webs of I-sections and channel sections).