The Direct Stress Anal/sis of Swept Cantilever Plates of Low Aspect Ratio: An Approximate Method, employing the Principle of Least Work, which Obviates the Need for Intermediate Deflection Calculations

The paper describes an approximate method for the direct stress analysis of anisotropic swept cantilever plates, without the usual need for intermediate deflection calculations. The method of analysis employs the Principle of Least Work, in conjunction with the assumption that the load and stress components may be represented with sufficient accuracy by a power series in the chordwise co‐ordinate, the coefficients of this series being functions of the spanwise position only. The validity is thus limited to these loadings for which the series involved are convergent. A system of oblique co‐ordinates is used to simplify the analysis. Particular attention is focused on the parallelogram cantilever plate, subjected to a uniform normal loading and to a system of tip bending moments, twisting moments and shear forces. Theoretical predictions are compared with the results of an experimental investigation.