The initial buckling of slightly curved panels under combined shear and compression

Abstract

The initial buckling of flat rectangular panels under combined shear and compression has been investigated theoretically in R. & M. 1965. This report extends the results given there to panels which are long and slightly curved. On aircraft with laminar flow wing sections, it is desirable that the wing cover should remain smooth up to a factor of 1¼g, and to achieve this a possible type of construction is one in which stringers are dispensed with, and the cover is reinforced with closely spaced ribs and stiffeners. These divide the cover into a large number of long and slightly curved panels, and the results given in this report should be of value in estimating the combined shear and compression which such panels can carry without buckling and so developing waviness.