An investigation of the buckling behaviour and parametric resonance phenomenon of a tensioned sheet with a central opening

Abstract

The results of an experimental study of the buckling behaviour and parametric resonance phenomenon of a tensioned sheet with a rectangular opening having elliptic ends are presented. The data from the static experiments indicate that the local buckling phenomena of the free edge of the opening are dependent on cutout parameters. The variations of critical buckling stress on opening parameters are discussed. The parametric excitation experiments show two distinct types of resonant behaviour. The response-excitation frequency ratio is observed to be half for the principal region and the ratio is one for the secondary region. The size and amplitude of oscillations of the principal regions are found to be substantially larger than that of the secondary region. Further, parametric resonance experiments for different opening parameters indicate that the dynamic instability effects are more significant for narrow openings than for wider openings.