Some Experimental Effects of Curvature on Response of Simple Panels to Intense Noise

Systematic tests show the effects of curvature on the vibration modes, strain response, and life characteristics of thin plates. Both discrete‐frequency and random‐noise tests on clad 2024‐T3 aluminum panels of 20×20×0.020‐in. dimensions are included. Discrete‐frequency classical nonlinearities are exhibited. Mean‐square spectral analyses, probability‐density distributions, and crossing‐rate statistics are included from random‐test bending‐ and membrane‐strain responses. Good agreement was obtained between experimental and calculated vibration frequencies for the lower‐order vibration modes. Constant‐level random inputs produced lower peak‐strain levels and associated failure times were generally longer as panel curvature increased.