Analysis of the Effect of Fiber Orientation on the Elastic Field in a Stiffened Orthotropic Panel under Uniform Tension using Displacement Potential Approach

Abstract

The effect of fiber orientation on the stresses and displacements at different sections of a stiffened panel of orthotropic composite material under a uniform tension is analyzed. The supporting edge of the panel is rigidly fixed and two opposing edges are stiffened. The mixed boundary value plane stress elasticity problem is formulated in terms of a single displacement potential function ψ, defined in terms of the two displacement components. The solution of the problem is obtained in terms of the Fourier infinite series for two different fiber orientations of the orthotropic panel. Analysis of the results shows that the fiber orientation has significant effect on the distribution of stress and displacement components at different sections of the panel.