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Lecture #6(14). Strength criteria of structure elements at compression

Plan:
1. Strength criterion of elements considered on model of uniform single-axis compression
– column.
2. General loss of stability
3. Local buckling pattern
4. Compression of the panel
5. Reduction of the panel

1. Strength criterion of elements considered on model of uniform single-axis

compression – column.

This model of column is applied to stringers, rib flanges, spar belts (caps), panels,
and struts. The elements and conditions of their activity are idealized:
1. The elements are strictly rectilinear; conditions of fixation are ideal (free end,
pinned end, fixed end).
2. The forces are applied on the ends of the elements and act along an axis without an
eccentricity.
Free end

Pinned
ends

Fixed end

Fig. 1. Conditions of fixation.

Under compression of thin-walled elements of airplane structure, the loss of load-

carrying ability usually descends from loss of stability. Such forms of buckling are known:
local, general, torsion and flexure-torsion forms (lateral buckling of a beam bending). At
general loss of stability there is a bending of a centerline of an element without distortion
of a cross-section profile. The local buckling is accompanied by distortion of a cross-
section profile without a bending of a centerline. The torsion buckling can take place with
a long unsupported rod, when at compression there are a turn of sections rather each other.
In airplane these structures practically it is not observed, and furthers we it shall not
concern. The flexure-torsion-buckling pattern (lateral buckling of a beam bending) can
take place under bending of long isolated beams, when the sections of a beam are twisted
under bending rather each other. So the isolated spars of a wing do not test for strength, as
they can lose stability. In a structure they usually have not such buckling pattern. Further
two buckling patterns – local and general therefore are considered only.

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Minimal of considered critical stress acts as ultimate stresses for the compressed
beam elements.
After loss of stability behavior of an element is individual. With some reserve receive
critical stresses are received constant and equal to maximal stress with the conforming loss
of stability.


Theoretical line

Real curve

Fig. 2 . Deformation after loss stability.

2. General loss of stability

This buckling pattern is characterized by a bending of a centerline of an element and
is typical for stringers, rib flanges and struts. The critical stress of general buckling is
calculated by the Euler's formula received in the assumption of linear dependence between
stress and deformations (Gook’s law):
E m  2 EI min
 cr  , (1)
l 2F
where E means modulus of elasticity, l - length of an element, F - cross-sectional area,
Imin - minimal moment of inertia, that is the loss of stability passes concerning an axis
with the minimal moment of inertia, m – attaching factor at general loss of stability, which
depends on a mean of fastening of element ends – column end fixity coefficients. This
formula is fair if  crE   pr .

Fig. 3. General form of buckling

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By consideration of stringer buckling in the compressed wing panel are possible 2
limiting happen: a "strong" and "weak" stringer in relation to rigidity of ribs and skin. The
strong stringer carries away behind itself a skin, and weak it is taken away and is broken
by a skin.
On a design stage frequently we can use m=2, but if the "strong" stringer that will be
obvious receive m=1. If the critical stress calculated by the formula of the Euler exceeds a
limit of proportionality of stuff, for obtaining true stress, Euler's value is corrected by
empirical relation:
1ν
σ cr  σ ut , (2)
2
1ν ν
where
σ
ν  ut .
E
σ cr

m=4 – fixed ends

m=2 – fixed end and pinned end

m=1- pinned ends

Fig. 4. Attaching factor

A strong stringer

A weak stringer

Fig. 5. The deformations of the strong and weak stringers

As the skin reinforces a stringer so calculation of the critical stress of general
buckling must be realized with the count of joint deformation with a skin. For the
compressed panel destruction also is the buckling of a skin between rivets – inter-rivet
buckling.

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3. Local buckling pattern
This buckling pattern is accompanied by distortion of a cross-section profile, thus the
centerline of an element remains constant.
The critical stress is calculated under the Euler’s formula for local loss of stability
and at the same time each flange of an element is considered as a plate:
E 0.9kE
 cr  2
, (3)
b
 

where в - width of a flange,  - its thickness, k – attaching factor at local loss of
stability, which depends from ratio a/в and reinforcement of this flange by the next
elements. At a/в> 4 factor к gets asymptotic values, which usually is used in calculation.

Fig. 6. The local buckling

Fig.7. The attaching factors for any flanges.

If the element has a few flanges, which can lose of stability, calculation of critical
stress is carrying out for each element. It is necessary to take for calculation minimal value
of critical stress. If Eiler's value of the stress surpass of a limit of proportionality, then re-
calculation is carried out by empirical formula:
1ν
σ cr  σ ut ,
1  ν  ν2
σ
where ν  ut .
E
σ cr
It is possible to compute critical stress of buckling of the compressed plate, which is
supported by hinges on the ends and with free lateral edges according Euler's formula:

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Fig. 8.A compressed plate.

E 0.9kE
 cr  2
, (4)
b
 

2
0.9 
12( 1 2 )
2
m c  a
where k     ; c  , where m means number half wave, it is received maximum,
 c m в
that k was minimal. The possible buckling patterns of a plate are below shown.

m=2

m=1
Fig. 9. The possible buckling patterns of a plate.

4. Compression of the panel

Let's consider activity at compression of the elementary structural assembly of an

airplane and helicopters - panel consisting from a skin with stringers, attached to it. Let's
analyze deformation of the panel on an initial site of loading, when all elements of a unit
do not lose stability, load within the limits of proportionality and are executed from the
same material. In this case stresses in all elements of cross section are identical and are
equal:
P
 , (5)
n s  f s  B

where Р means load on the panel, В - width of the panel,  - thickness of a skin, ns-
quantity of stringers of the panel, fst – is cross-sectional area of a stringer.
At different materials of a stringer and skin deformation from condition of
compatibility of deformations remains identical:
x=s=sk=const, (6)
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where s, sk mean according the strains of a stringer and skin.
In this case deformations are equal according Hook's law:
st=st  st=sksk  sk , (7)
where Еs and Еsk mean accordingly moduluses of elasticity for materials of a stringer and
skin.
From here follows
E
sk=st sk . (8)
E sе
Such picture of stress allocation is observed only so long as the skin will not lose
stability.
After loss of stability of a skin, the stress is changed by wavy form, as shown in the
fig. 10. The lower stress level in a skin in the middle between stringers is equal to critical
stress in a skin, and the upper stress level in a skin in the place of its attaching to stringers
is equal to stress in stringers. In this interval stresses are changed vary nonlinearly.

sk
m sk
cr sk

Fig. 10. The stress allocation in the skin after buckling

The ultimate state of the panel can be due to:

1. General buckling of stringers,
2. Local loss of stability of stringers,
3. Inter-rivet buckling of a skin between rivets.

5. Reduction of the panel

Even in a pre-buckling state of the panel (that is before loss of stability something) at
different materials of a skin and stringer in them the various stresses act, just as at tension
and the equation of equilibrium is written as:
Р = nst fst st + b sk sk csk  cst, (9)
Here Еcsk and Еcs mean accordingly cutting moduluses of a skin and stringer at the
given deformation.
From here stress in a stringer is equal:
stP / [ nst  fst +b  sk  csk  cst. (10)
At thin skins, which are usually used in aircraft, the critical stress of a skin is less
than the limit of proportionality and the calculation of a pre-buckling state is elementary,
as Еcsk=Еsk and Еcst=Еst are known constant values. For thick skins the consecutive
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approaching are demanded, as at them the critical compressive stresses are higher than
limits of proportionality.
As cutting moduluses of a stringer and skin are depended from deformation of a
stringer, so the value is introduced:
  csk  cst. (11)
This value is named as factor of reduction, as shows in how many of time it is
necessary to reduce the area of a skin, that a skin and stringer would be identical,
equivalent on load-carrying ability.
The similar reception of changing of a real structure other, simpler, from one
material, but equivalent initial on load-carrying ability is named reduction.

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