Analysis of the Nonlinear Behavior of the Composite Helicopter Horizontal Centralwing Skin

Test results of the composite helicopter horizontal central-wing under symmetric and unsymmetric loads showed that the strain value of the lower skin would turn from negative to positive, showing a nonlinear behavior. FEM results of the linear and nonlinear analytical approach showed a great difference. The strain value of the lower skin remains negative and decreases linearly when using a linear FEM analysis. The strain value of the lower skin would turn from negative to positive when a nonlinear FEM analysis is applied, and this result agrees well with the test results. Besides, the results of the FEM buckling analysis showed that the buckling load of the lower skin is considerably higher than the value at which the skin would show a nonlinear behavior. Therefore, the specific behavior is a result of the nonlinear property of the structure, not buckling.