Effect of Damage Locations on Axial Compression Carrying Capacity of Composite Stiffened Panel

The three different locations, central skin, stringer fillet border and stringer axis, on the composite stiffened panel were damaged about 1 mm pit by the way of drop-hammer impact, in the next step, axial compression tests was carried on. Contrasted with a intact panel, the effect of damage locations on axial compression capacity of the composite stiffened panel was studied. The results show that damage location has a great impact on capacity of the panel. The buckling loads of the stiffened panels with damage locations in central skin, stringer fillet border and stringer axis were 83.1%,90.7%,96.1% of the intact panel, respectively, and the damage loads were 90.2%,84.8%,79.7% of the intact panel, respectively. The skin plays a major role in stability of stiffened panel while fillet plays a major role in final carrying capacity.