The vibration characteristics of a tensioned plate containing a fatigue crack

Abstract

The vibration characteristics of a simplified model of an aircraft fuselage panel, containing a fatigue crack, are obtained using the finite element displacement method. This study is a preliminary to the determination of the fluctuating stresses at the tip of the crack. The model considered is a rectangular plate subject to a tensile load representing the fuselage hoop stress. The plate also contains a central crack in a direction normal to the tensile load. The results obtained are compared with previously published experimental work. The effect of increasing the width of the plate has been determined primarily by experiment. Some of the phenomena observed are discussed in conjunction with further theoretical calculations. © 1968.