Cracks near stiffeners weaken structures, study finds.
The article investigates how a cracked sheet, reinforced by another sheet, behaves under stress. By using complex mathematical theories, the researchers found that the stress intensity factor decreases significantly as the crack moves under the reinforcement. This decrease is more pronounced when the reinforcement or adhesive is stiffer. The study shows that the crack behaves differently depending on its position relative to the reinforcement, with important implications for material properties and design configurations.