Introduction

The use of Eq. (9.8), the strength of materials solution for the bending and extensional axial stress σxx(x, y, z) in a long, straight beam, requires a knowledge of the internal axial force N(x) and the internal bending moments My(x) and Mz(x). The difficulty is that a free body diagram (FBD) of a beam under study is often insufficient by itself to determine the axial force or bending moments at any point along the beam x-axis. As previously mentioned, whenever the equilibrium equations alone are insufficient to determine the internal stress resultants, the structure is called indeterminate. Most beams, or beam elements, that are parts of aerospace structures are indeterminate because these beams are mostly elements of beam grids and frames with, as much as possible, rigid connections. The grids and frames are often covered by thin sheeting, referred to as the vehicle skin. Thus there are many internal unknown reations. One purpose of this type of construction is to make the structure, and hence individual beams, as stiff as possible within the constraint of least weight. Increased stiffness has many advantages in a beam or a structure. For example, the stiffer the beam or structure, the higher the load required to buckle the beam or structure, and the lesser the chance of aeroelastic instabilities such as those discussed in Chapter 9. The stiffer the beam or structure, the higher its natural frequencies and the lesser the chance that gusts or control motions will stress the structure.