Stress and deformation analysis from reduced-scale plastic-model testing

The use of scale models, which are made from plastic material, for stress and deformation analysis of missile nose-cone structures is discussed. The special strain-gage application and testing techniques, which are required because of the use of plastic materials, are detailed.The utilization of relatively inexpensive simplified models for the investigation of two specific design conditions is cited. The first case is a stress and deformation study of a thin, constant-thickness, shallow spherical shell which is supported by a circumferential line reaction and subjected to uniform external pressure. Comparisons are made with a recently published theoretical analysis of the problem.The second case is a particular design problem which is concerned with the determination of the stress and deformation in a variable-thickness, shallow spherical shell with several various-size cutouts. The shell is loaded with a varying external-pressure load which is reacted by a circumferential line load at the periphery. Influence curves for both stress and deformation are given.Some limitations of plastic-model testing are reviewed, and guides to successful use of the method are given.Paper was presented at 1959 SESA Spring Meeting held in Washington, D. C. on May 20–22.