Two‐Spar Wing Stress Analysis: An Investigation into the Effect of Flexibility of Ribs

IN previous articles by the writer on the subject of Two‐Spar Wing Stress Analysis, it has been assumed that flexibility of the ribs has no appreciable effect on the distribution of stress in the wing. Using the method of minimum strain energy, this assumption is equivalent to neglecting the strain energy stored in the ribs. Other writers have, in effect, made this same assumption by neglecting change of shape of cross‐sections under load.