Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
The possibility of failure by buckling of structural members subjected to compressive loadings concerns every structural engineer and designer. In the design of aircraft, these compression members may be stringers, spars, or other stiffeners. Various geometrical sizes and shapes of stiffeners are used in aircraft construction. They are either extruded in the desired shape, machined, or formed out of sheet metal on a hand brake. They may be I-beams, Z-beams, channels, or angles. They may be used singly or may be joined to form a built-up or composite member. The actual choice of the size and shape of the stiffener depends upon the forces and moments to which it will be subjected.