Sensitivity analysis on ultimate strength of aluminium stiffened panels

This paper presents the results of an extensive sensitivity analysis carried out by the Committee III.1 "Ultimate Strength" of ISSC?2003 in the framework of a benchmark on the ultimate strength of aluminium stiffened panels. Previously, different benchmarks were presented by ISSC committees on ultimate strength. The goal has typically been to give guidance to the designer on how to predict the ultimate strength and to indicate what level of accuracy would be expected. This time, the target of this benchmark is to present reliable finite element methods to study the behaviour of axial compressed stiffened aluminium panels (including extruded profiles). Main objectives are to compare codes/models and to perfom quantitative sensitivity analysis of the ultimate strength of a welded aluminium panel on various parameters (typically the heat-affected zone). Two phases were planned. In Phase A, alle members analysed the same structure with a defined set of parameters and using different codes. It wa expected that all the codes/models predict the same results. In Phase B, to boost the scope of the analysis, the different members Uusing their own model) performed FE analyses for a range of variation of different parameters (sensitivity analysis)