Buckling and bending properties of aluminium plate with multiple cracks

Purpose: In this paper, the bending strength and buckling stability of (AA 7075-T6) aluminium plate weakened by many transverse cracks, which located at different positions, subjected to concentrated loads applied at the ends were analysed. Design/methodology/approach: Numerical modelling and calculation by the finite element method (ANSYS Package), for the critical load of bending and compression panel were estimated. Findings: It found that the variation of the critical stress in bending and buckling is proportional to the crack conditions (no. of crack and location). In general, the critical load in bending and buckling decreases with increasing the crack number in structure. Research limitations/implications: For both bending and buckling, two transverse cracks on one face of plate is more stable than two transverse cracks on opposite faces. Practical implications: In addition, many experimental tests were carried out by using an INSTRON test machine to obtain the buckling critical loads, where the experimental results were compared with the ones of the finite element method. Furthermore, bending strength was calculated theoretically for the cracked panel. Originality/value: Comparison between the experimental and numerical (FE based model) data and between the theoretical and nu-merical (FE based model) data for buckling and bending strength respectively indicate the precise and the simplicity of the developed models to determine the critical loads in such cases.