An analysis methodology is presented to evaluate the influence of stiffeners and other geometric features on the elastic buckling edge fixity of monolithic machined metallic shear webs. Three-dimensional finite element models of aluminum spar and rib webs show the benefits of accounting for stiffener dimensions, web fillet radii and web corner radii in buckling calculations. For design applications, a Rayleigh-Ritz buckling methodology for rectangular shear webs with four elastically restrained edges is presented, along with an equation for estimating edge torsional stiffness. The discussion focuses on shear loading applications, but the buckling methodology is applicable to more general in-plane loading conditions as well.
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