Laboratory work # 3(14)

RESEARCH OF THE STRESS STATE IN THE SPAR WEB

The purpose of work is estimation of character of stress state in structure elements of

wing spar; studying of application methods of strain gauge in a plan stress state; based on
comparison calculated and experimental data to estimate adequacy of the used analytical
model. This laboratory work is continuation of the previous laboratory work.

1. Description of structure

The researched sample represents model of a wing spar (see experimental

installation), one is the same as in previous laboratory work. The structure of a spar is
consisted from a web, caps and struts.
The spar web is the basic loaded element of a spar. It perceives the basic part shear
forces, some part of the bending moment and, besides provides (at sufficient rigidity)
jointness of work of spar caps. Presence of enough rigid webs provides an invariance of
spar cross-section, and, hence, an opportunity of realization of described below analytical
model. On the other hand, presence of caps provides an opportunity of realization enough
high shear stress in a spar web. The spar web is in a plan stress (shear stress from shear
force combines with normal stress from a bend).
Spar caps (top and bottom) are intended for perception of the basic part of the
bending moment, which due to presence of a spar web is transformed to a tension of one
cap and compression of another. In case of absence of a spar web or at its insufficient
shear rigidity, both caps would work on a bend as two isolated console beams.
Ordinary struts are intended for increase of critical stress of a spar web. Distance
between them and their rigidity are selected so that to not admit losses of stability of a spar
web at loads, smaller, than limit loads. Besides struts support caps after loss of stability in
a web which can take place at loading, big, than limit loads (until the moment of
destruction). At the loading, a web does not lose stability at the loading, the stipulated
order of carrying out of laboratory works. In this case, ordinary struts are not loaded.
The root strut is the important loaded element of a structure of any spar. Its assignment
is to transfer a shear flow from a web to fastening units of a spar.
The loaded tip strut is feature of experimental installation. Assignment of the tip strut
is transforming the concentrated external vertical force to a shear flow, which transmitted
on a spar web. There is connected with feature of loading experimental installation. The
structure has essential feature that is non-parallelism its caps ("obliquity" a spar) that it is
taken into account in examined below analytical model. Such spar has stress state, which
some differences from stress state of spar with parallel caps.

2. The individual task

The each student receives the point on a web in which it is necessary to find out
parameters of a plan stress state (by calculation and by results of measurements in
experiment).

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 3. The order of performance of work

1. Theoretically to calculate parameters of plan stress state in the given point of a

spar web ( с ).
2. Carry out experiment and to register results of measurements.
3. Calculate experiment parameters of a plan stress state in the given point of a spar
web ( e ).
4. Estimate of accuracy of experimental data.
5. Check up adequacy of the used analytical model.

4. Calculation of stress state in a spar

4.1. The analytical model of a spar

"The two-cap thin-walled beam" is accepted as the analytical model for a spar. This
analytical model is based on two hypotheses:
а) The stress state of a web – is pure shear;
б) The stress state of caps – is a tension or compression.
These hypotheses allow reducing system of internal forces in cross-sections to three
parameters:
q – is the shear flow stress in a web,
St - axial effort in a top cap,
Sb – is axial effort in a bottom cap.
Three equations of balance for the "cutted" part of a spar are enough for estimation
of these three parameters.

4.2. Estimation of internal efforts

The balance of the cutted part is considered for calculation of internal effort q - a
stream of shear efforts in cross-section of a spar (on fig. 1. the cutted part of a spar is
shown under action of four forces: P, St, Sb, q).
Height of section is equal to:
h  ht  x  tg (), (1)
where ht - distance between centers of gravity of caps in tip cross section of a spar, x
- distance from a line of action of external force up to that section where height is
estimated,  - angle of tilting top cap about bottom one.
From fig. 2. you can find tg β:
h  ht
tg  r ,
l
where hr – is distance between centers of gravity of caps in root cross section of a
spar, l – is length of the spar.
It is convenient to use equality to zero of the sum of the moments concerning a point
C (see fig. 1) for calculation of shear flow in the cross-section which is taking place

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through the examined point of a web.
 M C F   q  h  ( a  x )  P  a  0 (2)

St

A
a

q
h
B 

Sb x C
P=2500 N

Fig.1. Cutted part of spar

t=200

hr=300 ht=160

P=2500N
l=800

Fig. 2. Sketch of the spar.

Whence
Pa
q  (3)
h (a  x )
where x - distance from a line of action of force Р up to examined cross-section; h -
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effective height in examined cross-section. The distance a (see fig. 1) can be calculated
bythe formula
h
a t (4)
tg

4.3. Theoretical calculation of shear stress

Shear stress in a spar web is equal

Pa
 q
с
 (5)
 h(a  x )
where  - thickness of a web ( = 1mm).
According to the accepted analytical model (webs are in a condition of pure shear)
the main stress in a web we have relations:
с
 с1   ,  с2  0 ,  3с   с ,
The angle of the inclination of the main platforms to an axis of bottom cap is equal
 = ± 45 °. The top index "c" here means, those calculated values of parameters are
c

considered.

5. Carrying out of experiment

Tab. 1. Results of experiment.

Number of Instrument readings under loading on a stage #
strain gauge
1 2 3 4
1 а1(1) а1(2) а1(3) а1(4)
2 а2(1) а2(2) а2(3) а2(4)
3 а3(1) а3(2) а3(3) а3(4)
4 а4(1) а4(2) а4(3) а4(4)
5 a 5(1) a5(2) а 5(3) а 5(4)
6 a6(1) a 6(2) а6(3) a 6(4)
7 a 7(1) a 7(2) a 7(3) a 7(4)
8 a8(1) a8(2) a8(3) a8(4)

Experiment is consisted in stage-by-stage loading of experimental installation by

force Р controllable by a dynamometer, and in registration at each stage of indications
from strain gauges (the description strain gauges and its measuring is given in previous

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work). Each student should find out numbers of strain gauge, pasted in the given point of a
web (the rosette-type strain gauge is consisted from the eight strain gauges). Indications of
each from 8 strain gauges at each stages of loading are necessary for tabulating results of
measurements (to everyone strain gauge corresponds a column of the table, in lines
indications are resulted of strain gauges on each stages of loading).

6. Processing results of measuring

6.1. Primary processing

Primary processing is carried out for everyone strain gauges separately and is consisted
in estimation of deformation in its place attachment and on its direction. Deformations are
calculated by a technique described in previous work (see tab. #1, #2)

Table #2. Passage at point of origin.

Р=625N Р=1250 N Р=1875 N Р=2500 N

а1=-2150 а2=-2206 а3=-2244 а4=-2309

а1=2150 а2= 2150 а3= 2150 а4= 2150

а1=0 а1=-56 а1=-94 а1=-159

In this laboratory work necessarily you should take into account sign of strain. If you
have tilting of diagram to the left there is compression (see fig. 3). In opposite case if you
have tilting of diagram to the right there is tension and sign plus.
The strain is equal:
∆ ,
-6
where C=-2*10 .

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 Р, N

2500

1875

1250

625

-200 -100 0

a

Fig. 3. Diagram of measurement.

6.2. Secondary processing rosette-type strain gauge

6.2.1. Orientation of strain gauge

Before the beginning of processing it is necessary to define of conformity between

number of strain gauge in the table of measurement results and its position in the rosette.
Orientation of the gauge in the rosette is calculated by size of the angle  between its axis
and a horizontal axis Ox, directed from root of a spar to tip. The angle  is postponed from
an axis Ox upwards. The each of eight gauges of the rosette has its corresponded one of
four values:  = 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°. These directions are corresponded to deformations 0,
45, 90, 135, which are determined by primary processing.

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 2(6), 90о

4(8), 45о
1(5),0о
3(7), 135о

Fig. 4. Rosette-type of strain gage.

6.2.2. Transition in a median plane of a web

Each from four directions in the rosette two gauges are corresponded: one on left, and
another - on the right surface of a web if to look from root of a spar to the tip. To apply
formulas from the theory of the elasticity, received for the point of a material, it is
necessary to define any point in the field of an arrangement of the rosette. Probably, the
best choice will be the point in the center of the rosette (a point of crossing of axes of
gauges), located in a median plane of a web. Deformation on i-th direction in this point is
found out as mean arithmetic:
1
 i   (  li   ri ) , (6)
2
where  li - deformation on i-th direction (i = 0o, 45o, 90o, 135o) on the left surface of a
web, and  ri the same on the right surface of a web.

6.2.3. Updating results of measurements in the rosette

From the theory of elasticity it is known, that the sum of deformations on three
directions of axes in orthogonal system of coordinates is the first invariant of tensor
deformations, i.e. the sum does not depend from position of coordinate system in space,
does not change at any turns of such system. It is possible to connect two orthogonal
systems of coordinates with the rosette: axes Охy of the first system can be to connect with
directions 0o and 90o, and axes Охy of the second system - with directions 45° and 135°.
According to concept of the first invariant deformations equality should be write down:
0 + 90 + Z = 45 + 135 + Z, (7)
where Z- deformation in direction Оz perpendicular planes of a web, Z = 0.
From (7) follows
0 + 90 = 45 + 135, (8)
Strain gauges in the rosette actually measure not deformation in a point, but total
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deformation on length of base. Hence an error is presence in measurements; equality (8) is
not carried out. Size of disparity is equal:
 = (0 + 90 ) - (45 + 135 ) (9)
It characterizes accuracy of measurements in the rosette. The adjusting additives i are
entered in calculated deformations i (i = 0, 45, 90, 135) for partial elimination of influence
of measurement errors. Sizes of these additives should satisfy to two conditions: first, for
the corrected values of deformations it is enough to be executed to equality (8); second,
the sum of squares from adjusting additives should be minimal. To such conditions are
satisfy additives i

i   ,
4
The distribution of signs is visible from the following formulas for the "corrected"
deformations:
   
 0   0  ,  45  45  ;  90  90  ; 135  135  ; (10)
4 4 4 4

6.2.4. Estimation of parameters plan stress state by indications of gauges in the

rosette

Deformation of shear  is equal:

  [ 2   45  (  0   90 )] (11)

The corresponding shear stress is estimated by processing of experiment dates

e=  G (12)
where G - the shear module for material of the web that is equal:
E
G (13)
2 (1   )
and  =0.3 - is Poisson’s ratio, E=72GPa – is Hook’s modulus.
The angle  characterizes position of the main axes of deformation , which is equal:
2   (  0   90 )
tg 2   45 (14)
 0   90
The angle  is postponed from a direction 0°. If you have that  > 0 then the angle
is postponed at clockwise.

6.3. Estimation of accuracy of measurements

Accuracy of measurements by gauges in the rosette can be appreciated by disparity

size of deformation invariant  (see the formula 9). To exclude influence of absolute sizes
of deformations, it is necessary to relate disparity size to size of parameter Q of
deformation intensity. Size Q is calculated as smaller (on the module) from two sums the
sum positive items in the right part of the formula (9) and the sum negative items. So, a
parameter of accuracy of measurements in rosette is the size:

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 
''m  (15)
Q
If sizes 'm
'
exceed 0.25 then results of experiment cannot form a basis for an
estimation of adequacy for analytical models by virtue of insufficient reliability.

6.4. Estimation of adequacy of the used analytical model

The divergence of results of calculation with results of experiment is characterized

by relative sizes of deviations on shear stress in a web:

'mod
'
 2 e
e с
(16)
 c
The estimation of model adequacy is made by comparison of model error ''mod
with corresponding error of measurements ''m in experiment. If the inequality ''mod <
''m is executed, it is possible to ascertain that "experiment does not reject the theory ". If
the inequality is not executed, it is necessary to recognize that the data of experiment does
not confirm the theory.

7. Requirements to the contents of the report

The report should contain:
1. Heading (number and the name of laboratory work, number of group and a
surname of the student, date, the purposes and tasks of work).
2. The individual initial data.
3. Calculation of the shear stress in strain gauge point.
4. Results of experiment.
5. Primary processing results of experiment that is calculation  i for each of
strain gauge point.
6. Secondary processing experiment (an estimation of accuracy, calculation of
the shear stress).
7. Conclusions.