Applying the grid method to validate a numerical model predicting the transverse shear stress distributions in patched structures

This paper describes the application of a full-field measurement technique to validate a numerical model developed to calculate the stress distribution in metallic structures reinforced with composite patches. The numerical model is based on a finite differences scheme. Tensile tests are performed on circular patches to validate the model. Displacement fields are measured on the patches with the grid method. Strain are derived from these measurements using a suitable technique and stresses are deduced using the constitutive equations of the composite. In most cases, a good agreement is observed between stresses deduced from the measurements and their numerical counterparts.