Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Transient Elastic-Plastic Large Deflections of Geometrically Stiffened Rings

Finite-element formulations have been derived for the large-deflection elastic-plastic dynamic responses of arbitrarily curved two-dimensional beam structures which may consist of hard-boned, multilayer, geometrically stiffened configurations. Experiments have been conducted for structural responses of geometrically stiffened, freely suspended, circular rings of 6061-T6511 aluminum alloy to intense explosive loading which induces large-deflection elastic-plastic transient and permanent deformations of the structure. Very good correlation of the measured permanent deformation and transient strain with theoretical predictions is demonstrated.