Experimental and numerical analysis of post-buckling deformation states of integrally stiffened thin-walled components of load-bearing aircraft structures

The study presents results of experiments and numerical analyses concerning thin-walled shells used as components of aircraft structures. The solution, which is proposed here, consists in stiffening such elements by means of integral ribs. A comparative analysis has been carried out between the suggested design solution and the reference structure. In the experimental part of the study, an optical scanner with digital image correlation has been used. Nonlinear numerical analyses have been carried out with the use of software based on the finite element method.