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Stresses in Wing Ribs

A21.4 Rib for single cell 2-flange beam

Fig A21.20 illustrates a rib in a two-flange single cell beam
representing the leading edge structure of a wing

Assume that the trailing edge portion (not shown) of the wing
section produces a couple reaction P and a shear reaction R
as shown

These loads are distributed to the cell walls by the rib which
is fastened continuously to the cell walls

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Let q be the shear flow on the cell wall which develops to
keep the beam under equilibrium subjected to the externally
applied load (couple force P and shear R)

Taking moments about a point such as (1)

E M
1
= -p h + 2Aq = 0


( )
2
Ph
q Aistheenclosed area
A
=
f

With q known, the shear and bending moment at various
sections along the rib can be determined

For example, consider the section B-B. in fig A21.20
Fig A21.21 shows a free body of the portion forward of this
section
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The bending moment at section B-B equals:

M
B
= 2qA
1
where A
1
= area enclosed in fig A21.21

Let F
x
be the horizontal component of the flange load at this
section so that



The true upper flange load

and the lower flange load
1
2
B
x
M qA
F
a a
= =
1
cos
x
u
F
F =
u
2
cos
x
L
F
F =
u
f
The vertical shear on the rib wall at section B-B equals the
vertical component of q on the curved cell wall minus the
vertical components of the flange loads

V
web
= qa F
X
tanu
1
F
X
tanu
2



1
1 2
2
(tan tan )
qA
qa
a
= u + u
f
Illustrative problems:

The rib in the leading edge portion of the wing as illustrated
in fig A21.22 will be analyzed

A distributed external load as shown will be assumed


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Solution:
The total air load aft of the beam =

The arm to it c.g location from the beam =

Hence the reactions at the beam flange points due to the
load on the trialing edge portion equals:



Shear reaction V
r
= 160 lb


1
8 40 160
2
lb =
1
40 13.33"
3
=
13.33
160 213.2
10
P lb = =
f
Let q be the constant shear flow reactions of the cell skin on the rib
perimeter which is necessary to hold the rib in equilibrium under the
applied airload

Take moment about point (1)

EM
1
= - (213.2 x 10) + (8 x 15 x 7.5) + (q x 2 x 139.3) = 0
or q = 4.42 lb/in

13.33
160 213.2
10
P lb = =
Shear reaction Vr = 160 lb
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With the applied forces on the rib known, the shears and
moments (bending) at various sections of the rib can be
calculating

For example consider a section B-B 2.5 from the leading
edge as shown in fig A21.24

Bending moment at section B-B = 8 x 2.5 x 1.25 + 4.42 x 2
x 15.4 = 161 in lb

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A21.5 stresses in rib for a 3-stringer single cell beam Fig

A21.25 shows a rib that fits into a single cell beam with 3 stringers (a),
(b) and (c )

An external load is applied at point (a) whose components are 5000 and
3000 lbs as shown

Additional reactions from a trailing edge rib are shown at points (b) and
(c )

A vertical stiffener is necessary at (a) to receive the 5000 lb load and
distribute it to the web panels

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The following values will be determined

1) Rib web shear loads on each side of stiffener ad

2) Rib flange load at section ad

3) Rib flange and web loads at section just to the left of line
be

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Solution:

It will be assumed that the 3 stringers develop the entire wing beam
bending resistance

Therefore, the shear flow in the walls between stringers is constant

The wing rib is riveted to the wing skin and thus the edge forces on the
boundary of the rib will be assumed to be the same as the shear flows
in the wing skin

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The three shear flows q
adc
, q
cb
and q
ba
hold the external
loads applied to the rib, at a, b and c as shown in the figure
in equilibrium

The sense of the three shear flows will be assumed as
shown

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To find q
adc
, take moment about point (b)

EM
b
= -2(A
1
+ A
2
) q
adc
+ (5000 x 15) 500(11.5) = 0

= -2(60 + 160) q
adc
+ 7500 5750 = 0

or q
adc
= 157.3 lb/in with the sense as assumed

To find q
cb
take EF
z
= 0

EF
Z
= 5000 + 200 157.3 x 11.5 11.5q
cb
= 0

or q
cb
= 295 lb/in

To find q
ba
take EF
X
= 0

EF
X
= -500 + 3000 + 500 157.3 x 15 15 q
ba
= 0


or q
ba
= 42.7 lb/in




f
q
adc
= 157.3 lb/in q
cb
= 295 lb/in, q
ba
= 42.7

With these supporting skin forces acting on the rib boundary
the rib is now in equilibrium

Now the rib web shears and rib flange loads can be
determined at any section of the rib



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Consider as free body that portion of the rib
just to the left of the centerline of stiffener ad
as shown in fig A21.26

To find the flange load T take moment about
point (a)





To find the flange load C take EF
x
= 0






To find the web shear q
ad
take EF
z
= 0






16
9.3 157.3 60 2 0
17
2158
a
M T
T lb
| |
= =
|
\ .
=

16
2158 0
17
2034
X
F C
or C lb
| |
= =
|
\ .
=

6
2158 (157.3 9.3) (9.3 ) 0
17
74.6 /
Z ad
ad
F q
or q lb in
| |
= + =
|
\ .
=

f
To find the shear in the web just to the right of stiffener ad,
consider the free body formed by cutting through the rib on
either side of the stiffener attachment as shown in fig
A21.27

To find the web shear q
ad
take EF
Z
= 0

EF
Z
= 5000 9.3 x 74.6 9.3 q
ad
= 0


or q
ad
= 463 lb/in


To find the flange load C take EF
X
= 0

EF
X
= 2034 + 3000 C = 0

or C = 5034 lb

2158 T lb =
2034 C lb =
74.6 /
ad
q lb in =
f
At joint (d) T9 is obviously equal to 2158 lb

The stiffener ad carries a compressive load of
5000 lb at its end (a) and decreases uniformly by
an amount q
ad
+ q
ad
per inch

q
ad
= 463 lb/in
(463 + 74.6) x 9.3 = 4999.6
f
The results obtained by considering Fig A21.27
could also be obtained by treating the entire rib
portion to the left of a section which is just to the
right of stiffener ad as shown in fig A21.28

To find rib flange load T take moments about (a)





To find flange load C take EF
x
= 0





To find q
ad
take EF
z
= 0




16
' 9.3 2 60 157.3 0
17
' 2158
a
M T
or T lbs
| |
= =
|
\ .
=

16
' 3000 2158 0
17
' 5034
X
F C
or C lb
| |
= + + =
|
\ .
=

'
'
6
2158 157.3 9.3 5000 9.3
17
463 /
Z ac
ad
F q
or q lb in
| |
= +
|
\ .
=

f













16
' 9.3 2 60 157.3 0
17
' 2158
a
M T
or T lbs
| |
= =
|
\ .
=

16
' 3000 2158 0
17
' 5034
X
F C
or C lb
| |
= + + =
|
\ .
=

'
'
16
2158 157.3 9.3 5000 9.3
17
463 /
Z
ac
ad
F
q
or q lb in
=
| |
= +
|
\ .
=

EF
Z
= 5000 9.3 x 74.6 9.3 q
ad
= 0

or q
ad
= 463 lb/in


EF
X
= 2034 + 3000 C = 0

or C = 5034 lb
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The rib flange loads and web shear will be calculated for a section just to the left of line
cb (fig A21.25). Fig A21.29 shows the free body for the rib to the left of this section

To find the flange load C take moment about point (b)

EM
b
= -157.3 x 2 (160 + 60) + (5000 x 15) 11.5 C = 0

or C = 500 lb

To find flange load T take EF
X
= 0

EF
X
= 3000 157.3 x 15 42.7 x 15 500 + T = 0

T = 500 lb

To find q
cb
take EF
z
= 0

EF
X
= 5000 157.3 x 11.5 11.5 q
cb
= 0

or q
cb
= 278 lb/in

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These results could have been obtained with less numerical
work by considering the forces to the right of the section cb
in fig A21.29

C = 500 lb
T = 500 lb
q
cb
= 278 lb/in
?