Experimental and fem study of a cylindrical panel loaded through a pad

Abstract

The static response of a rectangular curved panel to a central radial loading is examined, both for the panel alone and for the panel when reinforced at its centre by a circular pad containing a concentric hole. The examination comprises tests on a physical model, in which point displacements and strains are measured, and numerical studies using the finite element method with two markedly different types of element in turn. The object is to study the quality of the correlation between the results of the physical experiments and the two types of finite element analysis, and it is demonstrated that such correlation is good. Particular considerations is given to the finite element modelling of the pad/panel combination and it is shown that because of the relatively large rigidity of the pad it is possible to provide viable finite element models for the panel behaviour by eliminating the pad from consideration.