Thermal Postbuckling of Laminates Containing Two Non-uniformly Distributed Fibers

摘要

This study presents the first thermal postbuckling analysis of composite laminates with two different non-uniformly distributed fibers in a single lamina. A 54 degree-of-freedom high order triangular plate element was developed based on the Von Karman large deflection assumption. The formulation of the location dependent linear stiffness matrix, first-order nonlinear stiffness matrix, second-order nonlinear stiffness matrix, geometrical stiffness matrix, and thermal loading vector was derived. The effects of hybrid fiber distribution on the thermal postbuckling behavior of composite laminates were discussed using the finite element method. The numerical results reveal that the redistribution of two fibers can increase critical buckling temperature and decrease thermal postbuckling deformation. The deflection of the plate is larger for the plate subjected to higher temperature rise and temperature gradient. The stiffening effect of fiber redistribution is more obvious for the laminate with higher volume fraction index and clamped edges.