Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach

The increasing complexity of large-scale thin-walled structures can be handled by using a hierarchical modelling approach. However, in structural engineering a true preliminary design phase is frequently skipped, since reduced models are often either unavailable or unsuitable for the necessary degre...

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Main Authors: Moritz Bäß, Kai-Uwe Schröder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/23
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author Moritz Bäß
Kai-Uwe Schröder
author_facet Moritz Bäß
Kai-Uwe Schröder
author_sort Moritz Bäß
collection DOAJ
description The increasing complexity of large-scale thin-walled structures can be handled by using a hierarchical modelling approach. However, in structural engineering a true preliminary design phase is frequently skipped, since reduced models are often either unavailable or unsuitable for the necessary degree of complexity. Before FEM became established, the shear panel theory was used to calculate thin-walled structures efficiently. While numerical finite element formulations of the shear panel theory have been compared to analytical solutions only, there has been limited review of the validity of the underlying assumptions and accuracy of the analytical model itself. The question arises of whether the shear panel theory provides a suitable reduced modelling approach. The aim of this work is to investigate the limitations of the shear panel theory within the preliminary design of thin-walled structures. An extensive parameter study using a detailed FEM model of a plane shear panel was conducted to compare the calculated stiffness and stress state with those of the analytical model. The models show different behaviour in stiffness and stress state for non-rectangular panels. This indicates that the assumptions of the shear panel theory violate the compatibility conditions between the shear panel and the surrounding stiffeners for non-rectangular panels.
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spelling doaj-art-433ae84da72f492d9797214aa91229fb2025-08-20T03:27:01ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-03-019012310.3390/engproc2025090023Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling ApproachMoritz Bäß0Kai-Uwe Schröder1Institute of Structural Mechanics and Lightweight Design, RWTH Aachen University, Wüllnerstraße 7, 52062 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Structural Mechanics and Lightweight Design, RWTH Aachen University, Wüllnerstraße 7, 52062 Aachen, GermanyThe increasing complexity of large-scale thin-walled structures can be handled by using a hierarchical modelling approach. However, in structural engineering a true preliminary design phase is frequently skipped, since reduced models are often either unavailable or unsuitable for the necessary degree of complexity. Before FEM became established, the shear panel theory was used to calculate thin-walled structures efficiently. While numerical finite element formulations of the shear panel theory have been compared to analytical solutions only, there has been limited review of the validity of the underlying assumptions and accuracy of the analytical model itself. The question arises of whether the shear panel theory provides a suitable reduced modelling approach. The aim of this work is to investigate the limitations of the shear panel theory within the preliminary design of thin-walled structures. An extensive parameter study using a detailed FEM model of a plane shear panel was conducted to compare the calculated stiffness and stress state with those of the analytical model. The models show different behaviour in stiffness and stress state for non-rectangular panels. This indicates that the assumptions of the shear panel theory violate the compatibility conditions between the shear panel and the surrounding stiffeners for non-rectangular panels.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/23shear panel theorypreliminary designthin-walled structuresfinite element methodreduced model
spellingShingle Moritz Bäß
Kai-Uwe Schröder
Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach
Engineering Proceedings
shear panel theory
preliminary design
thin-walled structures
finite element method
reduced model
title Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach
title_full Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach
title_fullStr Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach
title_full_unstemmed Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach
title_short Validity of the Shear Panel Theory as a Reduced Modelling Approach
title_sort validity of the shear panel theory as a reduced modelling approach
topic shear panel theory
preliminary design
thin-walled structures
finite element method
reduced model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/23
work_keys_str_mv AT moritzbaß validityoftheshearpaneltheoryasareducedmodellingapproach
AT kaiuweschroder validityoftheshearpaneltheoryasareducedmodellingapproach