Buckling analysis of delaminated composite plates using a novel layerwise theory

• Published in: Thin-walled structures 2014-01, Vol.74, p.246-254
• Main Authors: Kharazi, M., Ovesy, H.R., Asghari Mooneghi, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Buckling; Composite plates; Delamination; First order shear deformation theory; Layerwise theory
• ISSN: 0263-8231; 1879-3223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tws.2013.08.008

In this paper, a novel layerwise theory based on first order shear deformation theory has been developed to evaluate the buckling load of delaminated composite plates with through-the-width and rectangular embedded delaminations. The Rayleigh–Ritz method has been adopted and displacement fields are obtained by incorporating polynomial series. Besides, contact constraints are imposed to the delaminated area using penalty method in order to prevent unacceptable penetration. The present layerwise theory provides a more realistic description of the kinematics of composite laminates when compared to equivalent single layer theories. This method is capable of predicting buckling response of thick delaminated composite plates. •A novel layerwise theory is developed to analyze the buckling behavior of the delaminated composite laminates.•The proposed method is capable to model the local buckling of the delaminated sublaminate and the mixed and global buckling modes of the delaminated plates.•The presented method is suitable to apply for thick delaminated plates.•The number of DOF in this model is markedly less than those used in FEM.