Within the frames of the work, a computational and experimental approach to determining bearing capacity of the orthotropic plates with a geometric stress concentrator was developed for a case of the complex stress state. The paper considers problems of the used experimental sample shape, and proposes a new geometric sample making it possible to test orthotropic plates up to 8 mm thick with destruction in the sample working area. It presents the types of samples and loading schemes for various testing methods Experimental studies were performed of a complex stress state. The bearing capacity was determined for the plates made of the polymer composite material based on the epoxy matrix and the high-modulus fiber (carbon-based) for various combinations of the loading forces. The finite element models were constructed, and a numerical experiment was carried out on the bearing capacity of the orthotropic plates under consideration. The paper compares experimental data for various reinforcement schemes taking into account the load combined biaxial action. It shows that the computed and experimental results are in satisfactory agreement with each other.

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