Experimental stress intensity factors for cracks in a thin plate with stiffeners

Abstract

The problem of cracked plates stiffened by three-dimensional stringers is investigated using transmission photoelasticity. Models were produced of the hole-in-the-plate geometry stiffened by a combination of stringers transverse and/or parallel to the applied tensile load. Cracks of different lengths emanating from one edge of the hole and approaching a stringer were examined. These cases represent geometry and loading conditions for which it would normally be very difficult to obtain results using analytical methods. The stringer-stiffened plates show a consistent reduction in the non-dimensional stress intensity factor of about 20 per cent irrespective of the arrangement of stringers.