Bulb flat is the plate stiffener of choice for the shipbuilding industry, due primarily to their excellent strength to weight ratio and the fact that their shape prevents the build up of corrosive debris. Up to 20% of the ship's hull steel could possibly employ these sections and they are used in both commercial and military vessels.
Bulb flat will save time. Firstly, in terms of plate stiffening, bulb flat bars are a great solution for plate stiffening. Bulb flats provide a low paint area, with no need for edge grinding prior to painting and require fewer lugs compared with alternative plate stiffeners. Plate stiffeners are secondary plates or sections which are attached to beam webs or flanges to stiffen them against out of plane deformations.
Also, bulb flat has a long-life span in terms of corrosion buildup and maintenance costs. The rounded shape of the bulb flat prevents corrosive buildup and maintains painted surfaces and makes it easy to access, clean and maintain.
The most important feature of bulb flat is that when your structure is under extreme stress and starts to buckle, the shape of a bulb flat is highly resistant, increasing the longevity of your desired structure, whether it’s for bridges, ships or barges.
