On the analysis of the buckling behaviour of laminated composite plates and shells

In general, plates and shells out of composite laminates are more susceptible to transverse shear than those out of homogeneous isotropic material. By means of different shear flexible theories the effect on buckling and postbuckling behaviour is studied. It turns out that there is a rather limited range of plates where the transverse shear is of considerable influence. Results obtained with Mindlin- or Reissner-type theories prove almost as adequate as those obtained with Reddy's theory. For the buckling analysis of shells the Kirchhoff–Love theory is precise enough. Snap-through buckling and imperfection sensitivity appear in composite shells, too, especially if they are optimized with respect to high bifurcation buckling loads.