Multi-cell Beams

Prof. Adrian Orifici

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 Overview
• Introduction
• Multi-cell Beams
– Bending
– Torsion
– Shear

• Goal: Analyse bending, shear and torsion of

multi-cell beams

2
 Multi-cell Beams
• Multi-cellular structures are a common feature of aircraft
– spanwise and chordwise stiffeners create multi-cell box structures

• Structures are highly redundant

– Only a 3 boom structure is statically determinate
– General structures are statically indeterminate, but can be made
statically determinate by “cutting” a skin panel in each cell

Megson, 4th edn, p382, Fig 12.6

3
 Multi-cell Beams
• Consider a multi-cell tube under bending, shear
and torsion loads
• Assume bending loads are carried by stiffeners,
and that shear and torsion is carried by shear webs
• The analysis techniques applied are those for
determining bending stress and shear flows
previously applied
• Consideration is needed for a multi-cellular
configuration, where it is assumed that all cells
have a common rate of twist d / dz
4
 Bending
• Consider direct stress due to bending in a centroidal
coordinate system
• Use beam bending equation, and An
symmetric, single moment asymmetric
M  M y I x  M x I xy   M x I y  M y I xy 
z  y z   x   y
I  I I I 2   I I I 2 
 x y xy   x y xy 
• Booms loads calculated using Pn   n An
• These loads are normal to the cross-section, that is,
normal to the plane of bending (here they are in z)
y xn
An
yn
C x
5
Sketch shear flows from an anti-clockwise torque
T
What equation links shear flows to torque?

6
 Torsion
• Shear flows in a multi-cell tube are caused by shear forces
acting through the shear centre and torque
• Consider the case of pure torsion first
• With no restraint, there is no direct stresses in booms, and
only shear flows in webs

1 2 n-1 n n+1 N

7
 Torsion
• Each cell develops a constant shear flow, q1, q2, ...
• From moment equivalence, the externally applied torque
must be equal to the sum of the internal torques caused
by shear flow in each cell

T   2 AE ,n qn AE ,n  area enclosed by the nth cell

2 n-1 n n+1
1 N
q1 qn-1 qn qn+1
q2 qN

8
 Torsion
• For an N-cell section, more equations are
needed to solve for shear flows in each cell
• These are obtained by considering the rate of
twist in each cell
• Use compatibility condition that all N cells have
the same rate of twist d/ dz
• This comes directly from assumption of
undistorted cross-section

9
 Torsion
d 1 ds
• The rate of twist of the nth cell is given by 
dz 2 AE ,n G  q
t

• If q and t are constant with s d 1 qs


dz 2 AE ,n G
t
• For pure torsion, the shear flow on the walls between cells is the
difference between the shear flow in adjacent cells, e.g. q23 = qn  qn-1
qn
2 1

qn-1 qn qn+1

qn- qn-1 qn- qn+1

3 4
qn
10
 G = 28 GPa
q N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qI qII 4 5 6

200 400

d 1 qs
if qI = 100 and qII = 0, what is d/dz for cell ? 
dz 2 AE ,n G
 t

11
 G = 28 GPa
q N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qI qII 4 5 6

200 400

d 1 qs
if qI = 100 and qII = 150, what is (d/dz)? 
dz 2 AE ,n G
 t

12
 Torsion
 d  1  s12 s23 s34 s41 
for cells connected    
 q n  q n  q n 1   q n  q n  q n 1  
consecutively  dz  n 2 AE ,n G  t12 t 23 t34 t 41 

 d  1  s23  s12 s23 s34 s41  s41 

rearranging      qn 1  qn       qn 1
 dz  n 2 AE ,n G  t 23  t12 t 23 t34 t 41  t 41 

d 1  s s s 

or 
dz 2 AE ,n G 
 q n 1  
 t  n 1,n
 q n   
 t n
 q n 1   
 t  n 1,n 
qn
2 1
rate of twist
qn-1 qn qn+1
d 1 qs
qn- qn-1 qn- qn+1

dz 2 AE ,n G
t
3 4
qn
13
 G = 28 GPa
q N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qI qII 4 5 6

200 400

d 1 qs
if qI = 100 and qII = 150, what is (d/dz)? 
dz 2 AE ,n G
 t
d 1  s s s 
   qn 1    qn     qn 1   
dz 2 AE ,n G   t  n 1,n  t n  t  n 1,n 

14
 Torsion
d 1  s s s 

dz 2 AE ,n G 
 q n 1  
 t  n 1,n
 q n   
 t n
 q n 1   
 t  n 1,n 

where e.g. (n-1,n) denotes the wall common to the nth and (n-1)th cells

this gives N equations, so that with the torsion equivalence equation the
N values of shear flow and d / dz can then be solved

qn
2 1
torsion equivalence

qn-1 qn qn+1 T   2 AE ,n qn
T
qn- qn-1 qn- qn+1
3 4
qn

15
 T   2 AE ,n qn Question
A torsion moment causes shear in each cell as shown
1) What is the total torsion moment?
2) Sketch the shear flow distribution on each segment
3) Is the cross-section rotating? Does each cell rotate?
1 2
qI = 250 N/mm
qI
200
qII qII = 400 N/mm

3 4 5 Aboom = 500 mm2

750 tpanel = 2 mm

1400
16
 Shear
• Consider general case of an N-cell wing section of booms
and panels subject to shear loads Sx and Sy not acting
through the shear centre (SC)
• Section is made statically determinate by “cutting” a skin
panel in each cell
–This is usually convenient if this is near the centre of the top or
bottom panels, particularly where there is horizontal symmetry

y
Sy

SC C
x
Sx

17
 Shear
• Basic shear flow where the webs only carry shear
symmetric section asymmetric section
S  S x I x  S y I xy   S I  S x I xy 
qn   An yn q n    An xn   y y  An yn
I  I I I 2   I I I 2 
 x y xy   x y xy 

• With qb known, the unknowns are the N closing shear flows qc for each
cell, and the rate of twist d / dz, which is the same for each cell
• As with pure torsion, the N+1 equations come from torsion equivalence
(1 equation) and twist (N equations)
2 1

0 qc,n-1 qc,n qc,n+1

q23,b q14,b
q34,b

3 4
18
 Shear
• Considering the rate of twist

d 1 ds 1 ds
  q   qb,n  qc,n  and by comparison with
dz 2 AE ,n G t 2 AE ,n G t the pure torsion case

d 1  s s s  qb s  

   qc ,n 1    qc ,n     qc ,n 1       giving N
dz 2 AE ,n G   t  n 1,n  t n  t  n 1,n  t n  equations

• Torsional equivalence about any convenient moment centre

Text  Tq b  Tq c
which gives an additional
  2 AE qb   2 AE ,n qc ,n
equation, so that all N qc values
  qb l  h   2 AE ,n qc ,n and d / dz can be solved for

19
 G = 28 GPa
qc N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
qb N/mm
200 400
75 125 45
if qc,I = 100 and qc,II = 150, what is (d/dz)?

d 1  s s s  qb s  

   qc ,n 1    qc ,n     qc ,n 1      
dz 2 AE ,n G   t  n 1,n  t n  t  n 1,n  t n 

20
 G = 28 GPa
qc N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
qb N/mm
200 400
75 125 45
if qc,I = 100 and qc,II = 150, what is T?

𝑇 𝑞 𝑙 ℎ 2𝐴 , 𝑞 ,

21
 Example 1
• A two-cell beam consisting of stiffeners and webs supports a shear
force Sy = 50 kN. Calculate the shear flows and twist angle at the free
edge. Assume that the shear webs are not capable of carrying direct
stresses, and that the shear modulus is 28 GPa.

3 2 1
1200

4 5 6
Sy
180 A1 = A3 = A4 = A6 = 600 mm2
A2 = A5 = 900 mm2
400
distances 200 t12 = t23 = t45 = t56 = 0.8 mm
in mm
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
22
 S
3 2 1
Each cell is
“cut” at the
top panel 6
4 5

For “basic” shear flow of the open section:

1) what equation would you use?
2) what is positive s direction?

23
 3 2 1 A1 = A3 = A4 = A6 = 600 mm2
Each cell is
90
“cut” at the
A2 = A5 = 900 mm2
top panel 6
4 5

Sy
S
basic shear flow found using qb   An yn  q0
I

I x  4  600  90 2  2  900  90 2  3.4  10 7 mm 4

The shear force at the free edge is S y  50000 N

consider “cut” section as an open section s s s

work inwards to free edges, avoid junction s s

use s positive in direction of travel

24
 3 2 1 A1 = A3 = A4 = A6 = 600 mm2
90 s s s
A2 = A5 = 900 mm2
4 5 6
s s S
qb   An yn  q0
50000 I
qb ,34   600  90  79.4 N/mm
3.4  10 7
S  S y  50000 N
50000
qb , 45   600  90  79.4  0 N/mm I  I x  3.4  10 7 mm 4
3.4  10 7

qb N/mm
50000
qb , 25    900  90  119 N/mm
3.4  10 7

-79.4 -119 -79.4

50000
qb ,16   600  90  79.4 N/mm
3.4  10 7

0 0
50000
qb , 65   600  90  79.4  0 N/mm
3.4  10 7

25
 Sy

assume positive qc in
I II clockwise direction

qb N/mm qc N/mm

-79.4 -119 -79.4

qc,I qc,II

N = 2 cells, labelled cell I and cell II, with qb (known) and qc (unknown)

N equations from twist rate of each cell (in terms of d/dz, qb and qc)

1 equation from torsional equivalence (in terms of qb and qc)

26
 3 2 1
qb N/mm

180 I II G = 28 GPa
-79.4 -119 -79.4
4 5 6

200 400
t12 = t23 = t45 = t56 = 0.8 mm

t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm consider clockwise positive

and positive q directions

d 1  s s s  qb s  

   qc ,n 1    qc ,n     qc ,n 1      
dz 2 AE ,n G   t  n 1,n  t n  t  n 1,n  t n 

cell I
d 1    180   200    180    180   180  
  qc , I  2
   2    qc , II      119     79.4   
dz 2180  200  G    1.0   0.8    1 .0    1 .0   1 .0   

d
2.02  10 9  860 qc , I  180 qc , II  7143 Eq. (1)
dz
27
 3 2 1
qb N/mm

180 I II G = 28 GPa
-79.4 -119 -79.4
4 5 6

200 400
t12 = t23 = t45 = t56 = 0.8 mm

t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm consider clockwise positive

and positive q directions

d 1  s s s  qb s  

   qc ,n 1    qc ,n     qc ,n 1      
dz 2 AE ,n G  t
  n 1,n t
 n t
  n 1,n  t n 
cell II
d 1   180    180   400     180   180  
   qc , I 
   qc , II  2   2      79.4     119   
dz 2180  400  G   1 .0    1 .0   0 .8     1 .0   1 .0   

d
4.03  10 9  180 qc , I  1360 qc , II  7143 Eq. (2)
dz
28
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
200 400
use torsional equivalence for final equation

taking moments about boom 5 (clockwise positive)

Texternal  Tinternal  Tqb  Tqc

29
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
200 400
9 d
2.02  10  860 qc , I  180 qc , II  7143 Eq. (1)
dz
d
4.03  10 9  180 qc , I  1360 qc , II  7143 Eq. (2)
dz

1 10 7  2.86  10 6  72000qc , I  144000qc , II Eq. (3)

solving (1) (2) and (3) simultaneously:

d
qc , I  63.4 N/mm qc , II  57.6 N/mm  1.84  10 5 rad/mm
dz

30
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
200 400
𝑑𝜃
860𝑞 , 180𝑞 , 2.02 10 7143
𝑑𝑧

𝑑𝜃
180𝑞 , 1360𝑞 , 4.03 10 7143
𝑑𝑧

72000𝑞 , 144000𝑞 , 1 10 2.86 10

 860

 180
 180  2.02  109   qc , I  
1360  4 . 03  10 9 
q  
7143
7143

 Ax  B
  c , II   
72000 144000
 0  d / dz  1 10  2.86  10 

7 6
x  A1  B

31
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

63.4 57.6 4 5 6
200 400
total shear flow is calculated from q = qb + qc

care needed as each segment can be different

32
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

63.4 57.6 4 5 6
200 400

and the twist angle is given by

q N/mm

d 63.4 57.6
 5 180
 L  1200  1.84  10   1.26
dz 
143 113 21.8

63.4 57.6

33
 Key Points
• Analysis of multi-cell structures uses the same techniques
as for single cell tubes
– required to “cut” each cell in order to solve, as for closed cell tubes

• For a multi-cell structure, the rate of twist is assumed to

be constant for all cells, based on maintaining an
undistorted cross-section
• For any given structure idealised such that the stiffeners
carry bending loads and the webs carry shear only
– the boom loads and shear flows at any cross section can be
determined once the forces and moments are known
– the boom loads can be determined from bending stresses
– the shear flows can be determined from shear forces and torsion

34
 Questions
• For the analysis of an N-cell structure under shear force and
torsion, what are the unknowns and how many are there?
• For the multi-cell analysis equations developed, why is the
shear flow constant in each wall?
• Why is it possible to assume that all cells in a multi-cell
structure have the same rate of twist?
• Why is it useful to consider that a single wall can have shear
flows acting on it from each cell?
• Why does a multi-cell structure need to be “cut” in each cell in
order to be solved?
• Why is the enclosed area of each cell important? Why does
the shear flow calculation need enclosed area, if shear flows
are related to bending stresses and bending stress isn’t
related to enclosed area?

35
36
 Additional Slides as Reference
• Solutions to Examples
• Tutorial Problems

37
 G = 28 GPa
q N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qI qII 4 5 6

200 400

d 1 qs
if qI = 100 and qII = 0, what is d/dz for cell ? 
dz 2 AE ,n G
 t

𝑑𝜃 1 200 180
100 2 2 4.27 10 ra d⁄m m CW
𝑑𝑧 2 180 200 28000 0.8 1.0

38
 G = 28 GPa
q N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qI qII 4 5 6

200 400

d 1 qs
if qI = 100 and qII = 150, what is (d/dz)? 
dz 2 AE ,n G
 t

𝑑𝜃 1 200 180 180 rad

100 2 100 50 2.93 10 CW
𝑑𝑧 2 180 200 28000 0.8 1.0 1.0 mm

39
1) What is the total torsion moment?
1 
T   2 Aq  2750  200   250  2  650  200   400  2.3  10 7 N mm CCW
2 

2) Sketch the shear flow distribution on each segment

250
q (N/mm)
400
250 650

250 400

3) Is the cross-section rotating? Does each cell rotate?

The cross-section rotates counter-clockwise, about the shear centre, as the total torsion
moment on the cross-section is counter-clockwise.
Each cell rotates counter-clockwise with the same twist angle (and rate of twist), as this is an
assumption based on the cross-section remaining undistorted (or rigid in-plane under torsion)
40
 G = 28 GPa
qc N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
qb N/mm
200 400
75 125 45
if qc,I = 100 and qc,II = 150, what is (d/dz)?

d 1  s s s  qb s  

   qc ,n 1    qc ,n     qc ,n 1      
dz 2 AE ,n G   t  n 1,n  t n  t  n 1,n  t n 

1 200 180 180 180 180 rad

100 2 150 125 75 2.48 10 CW
2 180 200 28000 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 mm

41
 G = 28 GPa
qc N/mm 1
3 2
t25 = t61 = t34 = 1.0 mm
180 I II t other panels = 0.8 mm

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
qb N/mm
200 400
75 125 45
if qc,I = 100 and qc,II = 150, what is T?

𝑇 𝑞 𝑙 ℎ 2𝐴 , 𝑞 ,

𝑇 125 180 200 45 180 600 2 180 200 100 2 180 400 150

19,440,000 N mm CW

42
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

qc,I qc,II 4 5 6
200 400
use torsional equivalence for final equation

taking moments about boom 5 (clockwise positive)

Texternal  Tinternal  Tqb  Tqc

50000  200   79.4  180  200   79.4  180  400

 2  180  200  qc , I  2  180  400  qc , II constant q
around a closed
loop, T = 2Aq
1 10 7  2.86  10 6  72000 qc , I  144000 qc , II Eq. (3)

43
50 kN qc N/mm 3 2 1
qb N/mm

-79.4 180 I II
-79.4 -119

63.4 57.6 4 5 6
200 400
total shear flow is calculated from q = qb + qc

care needed as each segment can be different q N/mm

q34  qb ,34  qc , I  79.4  63.4  143 N/mm 63.4 57.6

q32  q54  qc , I  63.4 N/mm

143 113 21.8
q21  q65  qc , II  57.6 N/mm
63.4 57.6
q16  qb ,16  qc , II  79.4  57.6  21.8 N/mm

q25  qb , 25  qc , I  qc , II  119  63.4  57.6  113 N/mm

44
45
 Tutorial Problem
• The idealised cross-section of a two-cell thin-wall wing box is shown
below. The wing supports forces and moments as shown. Assume that
the webs do not buckle and carry shear only, and that the shear
modulus is 28 GPa.
Calculate and sketch the shear flow distribution under the applied load
24500 N 20000 N

5
11000 N 6 7,000,000 N mm
4

254 I II 202 406

3
1
distances 2
in mm
635 763

46
Wall Length (mm) Thickness (mm) Boom Area (mm2)
1-6 254 1.625 1, 6 1290
2-5 406 2.032 2, 5 1936
3-4 202 1.220 3, 4 645
1-2 647 0.915
5-6 647 0.915 Cell Area (mm2)
2-3 775 0.559 I 232,000
4-5 775 0.559 II 258,000
24500 N 20000 N

G = 28 GPa 5 7,000,000
11000 N 6
4 N mm
webs carry
only shear I II 202 406
254

3
1
distances 2
in mm
635 763

47
 Discuss
• How could you check equivalence of external and
internal loads?
• How would the calculation change if the cross-
section was not symmetric?
• Is the cross-section undergoing torsion? Is it
rotating? If so, which way? If not, why not?
• If you have used a spreadsheet, then try exploring
how changing the load values changes the shear
flows, e.g. try having only single forces or moments
in isolation, reverse signs, change magnitude, etc.

48