70002

BUCKLING STRESS RATIOS FOR FLAT PLATES UNDER SHEAR AND

NON-UNIFORM COMPRESSION

1. NOTATION

fc direct stress at centre-line of plate subject to non-uniform N/m2 lbf/in2

compression; stress at which plate first buckles under shear and
non-uniform compression
f cb direct stress at centre-line at which plate first buckles in N/m2 lbf/in2
non-uniform compression alone
fe direct stress at edge of plate subject to non-uniform compression N/m2 lbf/in2

q shear stress at which plate first buckles under shear and N/m2 lbf/in2
non-uniform compression
qb stress at which plate first buckles in shear alone N/m2 lbf/in2

Direct stresses are positive in compression.

Both SI and British units are quoted but any coherent system of units may be used.

2. NOTES

The curve of f c /f cb against q/q b given in Figure 1 applies to flat plates having the following edge
restraints:

(i) ends and sides simply-supported;

(ii) ends clamped, sides simply-supported;

(iii) ends simply-supported, sides clamped;

(iv) ends and sides clamped.

The curve applies to symmetric distributions of axial stress, such as those arising from initial or thermal
strain, that do not vary along the length of the plate. Stresses f cb and q b can be determined using Item No.
69003 and Item No. 71005, respectively.

3. DERIVATION

1. HOPKINS, H.G. The initial buckling of flat rectangular panels under combined shear
RAO, B.V.S.C. and compression. ARC R & M 1965, March 1943.
2. BENOY, M.B. The buckling of rectangular plates under thermal compression and
shear. Ministry of Technology S and T Memo. 2/70, 1970.

Issued January 1970

With Amendment A
1
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4. EXAMPLE

During deceleration from supersonic flight, transient thermal compressive stresses are set up in an aircraft
panel. The stress distribution is approximated by a parabola having f e /f c = 0.6 , f c = 4600 lbf/in2 and
the mean temperature in the middle of the plate is 100°C. It is required to determine the shear stress at
which the panel will first buckle.

The panel is made from DTD 5070 material 0.080 in thick, it is 12 in long and 6.5 in wide and has its ends
clamped and sides simply-supported.

Referring to the example in Item No. 69003,

6
E = 10.3 × 10 lbf/in2
and f cb = 7520 lbf/in2.

From Data Item Struct 02.03.01, at b/a = 0.542 ,

K = 6.50
2
 0.0806
and q b = 6.50 × 10.3 × 10  ------------- = 10 140 lbf/in2.
 6.5 

From Figure 1, for

fc 4600
------- = ------------ = 0.612 ,
f cb 7520
q
----- = 0.622 .
qb

Therefore
q = 0.622 × 10 140 = 6310 lbf/in2.

2
 
q
qb

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
1.0 1.0

0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6
3

fc
fc
fcb
fcb

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0.0 0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

70002
qb

FIGURE 1
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THE PREPARATION OF THIS DATA ITEM

The work on this particular Item was monitored and guided by the Aerospace Structures Committee which
first met in 1940 and now has the following membership:

Chairman
Prof. W.S. Hemp – University of Oxford

Vice-Chairman
Mr F. Tyson – Handley Page Aircraft Ltd

Members
Mr H.L. Cox – National Physical Laboratory
Mr K.H. Griffin – Cranfield Institute of Technology
Mr N.F. Harpur – British Aircraft Corporation (Filton) Ltd
Mr P.J. McKenzie – Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd, Kingston
Dr G.G. Pope – Royal Aircraft Establishment
Mr I.C. Taig – British Aircraft Corporation (Preston) Ltd
Mr A.W. Torry – Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd, Hatfield

The members of staff of ESDU concerned are:

Mr A.G.R. Thomson – Head of Mechanics of Solids Group

Mr M.B. Benoy – Mechanics of Solids Group.