Investigation of curved composite panels under high-g loading

Numerical and experimental work was conducted to investigate the use of composites within the Wide Area Surveillance Projectile (WASP) wing system by specifically studying the buckling behavior of curved composite panels under high-g loading. A finite element model was developed as a design tool to model the original WASP wing as a constant thickness curved panel and to predict the buckling response of the panels. The model predicted the critical buckling loads and mode shapes of the composite panels. Experimentally, controlled axial compression tests and high-g tests were performed to determine the buckling response of the panels. The buckling response, including critical loads and mode shapes, was obtained for the controlled axial compression tests. The high-g tests demonstrated that composite panels are a viable option for structures in a high-g environment. All of the samples tested showed no signs of damage and no loss in load carrying capability. The results were used to study the effect of lay-up, curvature, aspect ratio (width to height), and height on the buckling response. The results of the finite element model and the controlled axial compression tests showed good agreement. However, they do not accurately capture the buckling response of the composite panels in the high-g environment.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1999

Author dc:creator

• Jenkins, Staci Nicole, 1975-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brent Appleby and S. Mark Spearing.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50077

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/50077