Post-Buckling Analysis of Composite Plates Containing Embedded Delaminations by using Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory

摘要

In the current paper, the compressive post-buckling behaviour of composite laminates with embedded delamination subjected to a progressive uniform end shortening is investigated analytically. For modelling the embedded delamination, the laminate is divided into three regions. The higher order shear deformation theory is implemented and the formulation is based on the Rayleigh-Ritz approximation technique by the application of the simple and complete polynomial series for each region. Solution of the nonlinear problem is based on the application of the principle of Minimum Potential Energy. Some interesting results are obtained and compared with those achieved by the finite element method of analysis. The agreement between the results is very good. It is seen that for a given level of accuracy in the results, FEM requires markedly larger number of degrees of freedom compared to that needed by the developed method.