TECHNICAL HANDBOOK

Fokker Aerostructures B.V.

The Netherlands

TH 3.261
issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

INTERACTION EQUATIONS
For the interaction equations given in Table I and Table II the denominator of each stress or loading
ratio is the allowable value of that particular stress or loading. The numerator always represents the
allowable value for a combination of stresses or loadings.

DETERMINATION OF RF
The reserve factor is the factor by which the external loading can be increased till the applicable failure
criterion is reached. For combined loading, this means that all loading types must be increased
realistically till failure. In many cases, it is assumed that if the external loading changes all types of
loading change by the same factor. Writing an interaction equation in terms of stress or load ratios R,
the value of RF for an interaction equation of the type
R1m + R2n + R1 R2 + R3p = 1
is determined by solving

(RF R1 )m + (RF R2 )n + (RF R1 ) (RF R2 ) + (RF R3 ) p = 1

In a number of cases this can be done analytically, see Table III. If an analytical solution is not
possible, the value of RF can be obtained by means of numeric iteration, or interpolation.
If one or more of the separate loadings do not increase when the external loading increases, the
application of this equation to calculate RF can become too conservative. Less conservative is
multiplying the applicable stress or load ratio by 1, instead of by RF in the above given equation. If, for
instance, the loading represented by R1 does not increase when the external loading is increased (e.g. a
bolt pre-tension), the reserve factor can be calculated from

(R1 )m + (RF R2 )n + (R1 ) (RF R2 ) + (RF R3 ) p = 1

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or the use of any information contained therein for purposes other than provided for
by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

page 2 of 8

TECHNICAL HANDBOOK

TH 3.261

Fokker Aerostructures B.V.

The Netherlands

issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

Table I Interaction equations with respect to fracture (ref. 1)

Interaction equation

Type of loading

Bending-tension
For symmetrical
sections

See Fig. 3, 4 and 5 for ,

na is given in TH 3.232

N
+ t = 1
Nt

Mb
M b,br

m = 1 + 4 2 with =
Bending about both
principal axes
Bending-torsion

Remarks

M bx

M bx,br

M by
M by,br

1
2

na
B

=1

Mb

+ Mw =1

Mw
b,br

Transverse loading
causing bending
and shear stress
b

l
<4
h

+ = 1
B

a
<4
h

l
< 6.5
h

l
< 13
h

B , b : bending stress
at extreme fibre
: see Fig. 1
2

Compressive and
tensile stress under
90o combined with
shear stress

y
x y

x
+ +
+ = 1
2
B
B
B
B

Compressive or
tensile stress under
90o combined with
shear stress

y
x y

x
+ + = 1
2
B
B
B
B
to avoid

y
x
> 1 or
> 1 use cut-off at
B
B

y
x
1 or
1
B
B
Thick-walled cylinders

Torsion-bendingaxial compression

Mw

Mw

Torsion-axial
tension

Mw

Mw

Mb

+
M

b,br

N d
= 1
N d,kr

N
+ t = 1
NB

Remark: For all stresses and loadings in table I positive values shall be used.

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by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

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TECHNICAL HANDBOOK
Fokker Aerostructures B.V.
The Netherlands

TH 3.261
issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

= average shear stress

= P / Area of member(s) in loading direction

Fig. 1
Table II Interaction equations with respect to stability (ref. 2, 3)
Interaction equation

Type of loading

Compression Shear

d ,kr

kr

=1

a
a
where m = 0.073 + 0.34 + 0.733
b
b

Remarks

Flat rectangular
unstiffened plates
( 0.25 a / b 4.0 ) with
simply supported edges.

a
a
n = 0.3037 0.928 + 2.625
b
b

Tension Shear

kr

0.2 t = 1
kr

Bending Shear
b

kr

Mb
+
M
b,kr

=1

Flat rectangular
unstiffened plates
( 0.25 a / b 4.0 ) with
simply supported edges.

Flat rectangular
unstiffened plates
( 0.5 a / b 1.0 ) with
simply supported edges.

Remark: For all stresses and loadings in table II positive values shall be used.

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or the use of any information contained therein for purposes other than provided for
by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

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TECHNICAL HANDBOOK

TH 3.261

Fokker Aerostructures B.V.

The Netherlands

issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

Table III analytical solution of RF if all separate loads increase by the same factor.
Interaction equation

RF

R1 + R2m = 1

RF R1 + (RF R2 )m - 1 = 0

R1 + R2 = 1

RF =

1
R1 + R2
1

RF =

R12 + R22 = 1

RF =

R12 + R22 + R1 R2 + R32 = 1

R12

R22

R22

+ R1 R2 + R32
1

RF0 =
R12 + R22 R1 R2 + R32 = 1

R12 + R22

R12

R1 R2 + R32

1 1
if RF0 R1 1 or RF0 R2 1 : RF = min ,
R1 R2

and
R1 1 or R2 1

if RF0 R1 < 1 and RF0 R2 < 1 : RF = RF0

see also Fig. 2
R12 + R22 = (1 R3 )2

RF =
R3 +

R12 + R22

Remark: For all stresses and loadings in table III positive values shall be used.
1.2

R3=0

1.0
0.8
0.6

R 3 = 0.4
R 3 = 0.5

0.4
0.2

R 2 0.0

R 3 = 0.6

-0.2
-0.4

R 3 = 0.8

-0.6
-0.8
-1.0
-1.2
-1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

R1

Fig. 2 Interaction curve for R12 + R22 R1 R2 + R32 = 1 .

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or the use of any information contained therein for purposes other than provided for
by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

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TECHNICAL HANDBOOK

TH 3.261

Fokker Aerostructures B.V.

The Netherlands

issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

EXAMPLE
A tube having D = 20 mm and d = 2 mm is loaded by combined torsion, bending and compression.
M w = 64000 Nmm
M b = 60000 Nmm
N d = 7000 N

6.1

Allowable bending moment:

M b,br = 263000 Nmm

Allowable torsional moment:

M w = 282000 Nmm

Allowable compression load:

N kr = 29300 N

Proportional load increase

R1 =

R2 =

R3 =

Mw
Mw

Mb
M b.br

Nd
N kr

64000
= 0.227
282000

60000
= 0.228
263000

7000
= 0.239
29300
2

Mb
M
= 1 - N d .
The allowable loading condition follows from w +

M
N

d ,kr
Mw
b,br

When all loadings increase with the same factor, RF according to Table III becomes:
RF =

6.2

1
R3 +

R12 + R 22

1
0.239 + 0.227 2 + 0.228 2

= 1.78

Only bending moment and compressive load can increase

If M w remains constant, the reserve factor follows from:
2

Mw

+ RF M b = 1 - RF N d

N d ,kr
b ,br
Mw

0.227 2 + (0.228 RF )2 = (1 0.239 RF )2

RF = 2.03

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or the use of any information contained therein for purposes other than provided for
by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

page 6 of 8

TECHNICAL HANDBOOK
Fokker Aerostructures B.V.
The Netherlands

TH 3.261
issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

Fig. 3

Fig. 4
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or the use of any information contained therein for purposes other than provided for
by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

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TECHNICAL HANDBOOK

TH 3.261

Fokker Aerostructures B.V.

The Netherlands

issue date:

100208

issue no:

004

d
x

Fig. 5

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or the use of any information contained therein for purposes other than provided for
by this document, is not permitted except with prior and express written permission.

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