Abstract
Since the introduction of general European rules for the design of aluminium structures, specific rules for the design of aluminum stressed skin panels are available. These design rules have been used for the optimization of two extrusion products: one for explosions and wind load governing and one for explosions and floor load governing. The optimized extrusions fulfill Class 3 section properties, leading to weight reductions up to 25% of regularly-used shear panel sections. When the design is based on Class 4 section properties, even more weight reduction may be reached. The typical failure mode of the optimized stressed skin panels depends on the applied height of the hat stiffeners. For sections using relatively high hat stiffeners, failure is introduced by yielding of the heat-affected zone. For this type of cross-section, Eurocode 9 design rules and numerical calculations show very good agreement. For sections using relatively low hat stiffeners, failure is introduced by global buckling. For this type of cross-section, Eurocode 9 gives rather conservative results.
Highlights
For many years, steel, as well as aluminum alloys have been used as a load bearing material in the structural design of helicopter decks, platforms, bridges and ships
Since the introduction of Eurocode 9 [1], specific rules have been available for the design of aluminum stressed skin panels
Considering the cross-sectional conditions, the panels were supposed to be composed of aluminum extrusions, which can be produced by a die fulfilling the geometrical conditions given in the connections are realized by double-sided welding, which improves the quality of the connection according to construction practice; the weld angles in the extrusion product are smaller than 90 degrees, which facilitates good grinding out of the weld geometry; the number of welds is minimized, which implies a large width of the section to be extruded; the plates to be connected have equal thicknesses, which best facilitates the friction stir welding method to be used; the minimum wall thickness of the cross-sectional parts is 2.5 mm, which guarantees extrusion products having small dimensional deviations
Summary
Steel, as well as aluminum alloys have been used as a load bearing material in the structural design of helicopter decks, platforms, bridges and ships. Living quarters on oil platforms make use of aluminum as the main structural material. Aluminum structures in living quarters on platforms have been designed using national guidelines, mainly based on experience, as well as design rules for steel structures. Since the introduction of Eurocode 9 [1], specific rules have been available for the design of aluminum stressed skin panels. These shear panels are often used for the stabilization of frames, as used in living quarters on platforms. The design of aluminum stressed skin panels is optimized using the design regulations in Eurocode 9 [1]
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