Laboratory work #7 (14)

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD OF ESTIMATION FOR CRITICAL STRESS

UNDER COMPRESSION OF THIN PLATES

One of the phenomena lowering bearing ability of thin-walled elements of air

structure (the skin of wings, stabilizer, control surfaces, fuselage, spar webs and other
elements) is the loss of stability at action of compressing and shear loads, and also their
combinations.
The experimental method of estimation of critical stress is described below at
compression of thin plates in system of a thin-walled torsion box of square cross section
80 on 80 mm in length 300 mm (fig. 1), thickness =0.5 mm.
Usually account of critical stress within the limits of the linear physical law - Hook's
law does not cause difficulties and is carried out for isotropic material by the Eulers
formula (1):
E 0 ,9
cr , (1)
2
b

Fig. 1. The specimen for test.

a
where K f is attaching factor which dependent from ratio of the sides of a
b
plate and grip conditions of its parties (see the fig. 2).
- is thickness of a plate;
E - is the coefficient of elasticity for a material;
b is width of the compressed party of a plate.
There is the simple, not requiring application of the complex measuring equipment
experimental way of estimation of critical stress based on the Thouthwell's method. The
idea of this way is, that for bulging thin plate at nonlinear work (large deflections, when
W> 0.5 ) the parabolic function was found rather precisely describing process of
deformation:

P Pcr 1 W 2 (2)
here P is compressing force causing crippling of a plate;
cr is the critical value of compressing force (Eulers effort);
W - is the maximal deflection of a plate;
- is the factor which is taking into account the characteristics of plate material:
1


3 1 2 (3)
8 2
where =0.3 is the Poisson's ratio for the material;
=0.5 mm - is the thickness of a plate.

free side pinned side

fixed side

Fig. 2. The attaching factor.

Thus, from formulas (3) there is follows, that for experimental estimation of critical
force it is necessary to plot the diagram P cr 1 W 2 (fig. 3).

2
 P
Pcr

1 W 2 (4)

experimental data
d

1+W2

0 Fig. 3. The experimental diagram.

Fig. 4. The experimental installation.

1 is the force frame of installation; 2 - is the dynamometer; 3 - cargo screw; 4- is
the lever; 5 - is the tested sample: 6 - tightening screws; 7 - indicators of displacements.

The size of critical stress under compression is by this critical force:

P
crT cr , (5)
4b
where b is the width of torsion box, - is the thickness of the torsion box skin.
For performance of laboratory work the experimental installation
(fig. 4) is used.

3
 The sample is fixed in installation by tightening screws. The cargo screw creates the
compressing effort. The indicator measures the deflection of a plate.

Order of performance of laboratory work

1. You should write down heading of this laboratory work, your surname, date, draw
specimen with dimensions and its grip condition.
2. Calculate critical normal stress for a researched sample by the formula (1) (module
of elasticity for duralumin plate to accept E = 72 GPa, thickness of a plate = 0.5 mm).
You must right choose K from diagram (fig. 2) according to ratio of the sides of a plate
and grip condition. Theoretically we have three type of grip condition: free side, fixed
side and pinned side. So you do not know real grip condition you should choose two most
credible grip conditions and calculate for them critical stresses.
3. You must gradually to increase effort with the help of the cargo screw to remove
(take off) the indications of the indicator at load 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 kg. Plot the
experimental diagram (fig. 3). Compute experimental value of critical force (5) by any point
on straight line (fig. 3).
4. Compare theoretical and experimental values of the critical stress, to calculate a
relative error. Issue the report, to hand over to the teacher. The error is estimated by the
formula:
crE cr

2 E
100 [%],
cr cr
where crT - is value critical stress from test (5); crE - is value critical stress by Eulers
formula (1).
5. Choose theoretical grip condition which is closer to real grip condition by result of
experiment.
Requirements to the contents of the report
The report should contain:
1. Heading (number and the name of laboratory work, number of group and a
surname of the student, date, the purposes and tasks of work).
2. You should plot drawings of specimen and experimental installation.
3. Results of theoretical calculation for critical stress in different grip conditions
4. You should plot the experimental diagram and estimate experimental value
of critical stress.
5. You should compare experimental and theoretical values of critical stress and
choose theoretical grip condition which is closer to real grip condition by result of
experiment.