In the detailing of plate girder stiffeners, the maximum permissible outstand (projection) of a flat stiffener leg in compression should not exceed which multiple of its thickness t?

Introduction / Context:
The outstand (projecting width) of a plate stiffener behaving as a compression element must be controlled to prevent local buckling. Design rules therefore limit the ratio of outstand to thickness for flats used as stiffeners in plate girders and similar built-up steel members.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Element: flat stiffener leg in compression.
• Parameter: outstand (projection beyond the attachment line) relative to thickness t.
• Objective: avoid local plate buckling under compressive stresses.

Concept / Approach:
Local plate buckling capacity improves with thicker plates and smaller outstands. Traditional steel design rules specify a simple limit—often expressed as a multiple of t—to keep the slenderness of the outstanding element within safe bounds without detailed plate-buckling checks.

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