Section 4.2.1. Ultimate Strength
4.2.1 Ultimate Strength
The simplest failure criterion
assumes that failure occurs at the ultimate (or yield) strength of the
material. Thus, the failure criterion
becomes simply
where sf
is the fracture stress and Ftu
is the ultimate strength. This
criterion is applicable primarily to uncracked structures and is included here
for completeness. In past analyses of
failure of built-up structure, the residual strength of stiffeners was based
upon this criterion. When the main
panel between the stiffeners fails due to catastrophic crack growth, the panel
loads are transferred to the stringers (or stiffeners). The transferred loads may increase the
stress level in the stringer so it is high enough to reach the value of sf, causing stiffener failure.