Prediction of the longitudinal crack behavior of stiffened curved panels

The purpose of this study is to present a simplified semi-analytical methodology to predict the behavior of longitudinal cracks in cracked stiffened curved panels with frames. Pressure loading acting on the longitudinal cracks induces geometrical non-linearity due to large deflection of crack edges. This methodology is based mainly on the applicatin of “bulging” coefficients to stress intensity factors taken from a numerical model of a stiffened cracked flat panel in order to get the crack driving force of the curved panel. This flat model must be geometrically similar to the curved panel. The advantage of the method is the reduced calculation time compared with a numerical model of the cracked stiffened curved panel, including frames. Analysis of the results shows a highly satisfactory correlation between prediction by calculation and experimental data.