Nonlinear Bending of a Stress Corrosion Specimen

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the postbuckling behavior of an initially straight plate strip of variable flexural rigidity whose ends are subjected to opposing “axial” loads. Bending action takes place only in the center section of the strip, since the symmetric end portions are considered to be rigid. Pertinent postbuckling load-deflection curves are deduced by using the nonlinear bending theory of a plate strip, and the maximum stress is obtained as a function of the half-distance between the loaded ends. Numerical results are presented in nondimensional form, and the theoretical solution is shown to compare favorably with a major portion of the experimental stress and deflection data. Information given here has an important and direct application to the determination of bending stress states in the lateral faces of a wide class of tensile test coupons used in stress corrosion studies.