Fracture diagrams for cracked stiffened panels

• Published in: Engineering fracture mechanics Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 1005 - 1017
• Main Authors: Rich, Thomas P., Ghassem, Mansoor M., Cartwright, David J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tarrytown, NY Elsevier Ltd 1985; Oxford Elsevier
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Panel; Fracture(mechanics); Cracked plate
• ISSN: 0013-7944; 1873-7315
• DOI: 10.1016/0013-7944(85)90006-2

A general equation is derived for the prediction of structural failure of two-dimen-sional cracked components in which the geometrical features of the component affect the stress intensity factor of the crack. The general equation is used to construct a new fracture diagram for a uniformly stressed sheet containing a crack which is constrained by two stiffening elements fastened to the sheet. By the use of an example it is shown that the shape of the fracture diagram, and hence the fracture behavior of the panel, depends on the spacing of the stiffening elements, rivet locations and the relative stiffness of the cracked sheet and the stiffeners. It is shown that there are stiffened panel diagrams which indicate that failure can occur at fracture toughness levels significantly higher than would be apparent from an unstiffened panel of similar material.