ASM solution of stiffened sector plates

This study extends the application of the Analytical Strip Method (ASM) of solution to stiifened sector plates. The plate is idealized as a system of horizontally curved plate strips and beam or rib segments rigidly connected to each other. The behavior of the system is derived by imposing the edge and continuity conditions on the closedform solutions of the individual plate strips and beam elements. The method is applicable to plate-stiffener systems subjected to various loading conditions and with different boundary conditions along the straight and circular edges. The advantage of the ASM solution over the "equivalent" orthotropic plate substitute is that unequally spaced stiifeners and stiffeners of different cross-sectional properties can be introduced in the solution. Results are presented for stiffened sectors with different edge and loading conditions.