The Influence of End Plate and Bulkhead on the Shell of Variable Rectangular Profile Subjected to Simultaneous Torsion and Bending at Middle Planes

Abstract

The box type structure of a container or freight car body set on four supporting points is subjected to simultaneous torsion and bending at middle planes when changed into the state of being supported at three points. In the case of f freight car, excessive torsional rigidity of the body is said to be one of the causes of derailment and in the case of a container, insufficient torsional rigidity may cause an accident of the door failing to open. We tried theoretical and experimental analysis on the shell of variable rectangular profile to study a general concept on stress distribution, deformation and the influence of end plates and bulkhead. As the result, it has been made clear that so far as this model is concerned, pure torsion accounts for 70% of the apparent torsional angle measured in the test with real structure, when both end plates are present, but when there is only one end plate, pure torsion accounts for 5% of that angle, the rest being due to profile variation.