Abstract: This paper presents a method for selecting the integration path in calculating the stress intensity factor of riveted stiffened panels by means of J-integral method. The calculation method for stiffness derivative in calculating stress intensity factor of riveted stiffened panels with stiffness derivative method has been given as well. The preliminary research on applications of symmetricity and three methods of simulating the behaviour of rivet joint has been carried out. A calculation example related to stress intensity factor of a riveted stiffened panel has been presented. The calculation results show that when the rivets are regarded as rigid joint, the results obtained by stiffness derivative or J-integral method agree well with the results derived from rivet force method; the stress intensity factor increases significantly while the rivet elasticity is taken into account; the elastic behaviour of rivets can be simulated by either orthogonal equivalent bars or equivalent shear panels.

Key words: stiffened panel, stress intensity factor, calculation method research