Elastic stability of skew laminated composite plates subjected to biaxial follower forces

The present study investigates the elastic stability of skew laminated composite plates subjected to biaxial inplane follower forces by the finite element method. The plate is assumed to follow first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDPT). The kinetic and strain energies of skew laminated composite plate and the work done by the biaxial inplane follower forces are derived by using tensor theory. Then, by Hamilton's principle, the dynamic mathematical model to describe the free vibration of this problem is formed. The finite element method and the isoparametric element are utilized to discretize the continuous system and to obtain the characteristic equations of the present problem. Finally, natural vibration frequencies, buckling loads (also the instability types) and their corresponding mode shapes are found by solving the characteristic equations. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of those parameters, such as various inplane force combinations, skew angle and lamination scheme, on the elastic stability of skew laminated composite plates subjected to biaxial inplane follower forces.     

对称层合板复合材料的屈曲变形解析

提出了如何利用2 元多项式位移函数来分析层合板复合材料的屈曲问题。在解析中同时 考虑到层合板的面外剪切变形。解析表明屈曲载荷在多项式项数大于20 以上时趋于稳定, 可得到 高精度的解。本文并对对称角铺设层合板进行了系统地数值解析, 明确了在各种边界拘束条件下 材料的工程弹性系数, 层合板长宽比, 铺层数, 层合角对屈曲载荷的影响, 从而以达到优化设计。同 时, 验证了本解析法对任意边界条件下的层合板的屈曲解析是非常有效的。      

Analysis of laminated composite plates using a higher-order shear deformation theory

A higher-order shear deformation theory is used to analyse laminated anisotropic composite plates for deflections, stresses, natural frequencies and buckling loads. The theory accounts for parabolic distribution of the transverse shear stresses, and requires no shear correction coefficients. A displacement finite element model of the theory is developed, and applications of the element to bending, Vibration and stability of laminated plates are discussed. The present solutions are compared with those obtained using the classical plate theory and the three-dimensional elasticity theory.     

A generalized higher-order theory for buckling of thick multi-layered composite plates with normal and transverse shear strains

The onset of buckling in square laminated multi-layered composite plates, subject to unidirectional in-plane loads, is investigated within the framework of a generalized higher-order shear deformation theory suitable to capture significant transverse shear and thickness-wise deformation effects. The displacement field is expanded in a Taylor series of the thickness coordinate with arbitrary polynomial degree; in turn, the series coefficients, expressed as a superposition of admissible functions, are determined according to the Rayleigh–Ritz method. Truly higher-order polynomial terms, along with a sufficient number of in-plane admissible functions, are shown to be necessary for convergence towards the fundamental buckling load multiplier. As a by-product, reduced-order models are identified for various plate geometries and lamination schemes. The sensitivity of the lowest buckling load with respect to the nondimensional parameters (the thickness ratio, the ratio between the elastic moduli, the ply angle) is investigated. In particular, the attention is focused on the cross-over phenomenon between the lowest two buckling eigenvalues in multi-layered composite square plates with different lamination schemes. The presented results shed light onto the buckling behavior of thick shear-deformable multi-layered plates.     

Transient dynamic and damping analysis of laminated anisotropic plates using a refined plate theory

A refined model is presented for the linear transient dynamic and damping analysis of laminated anisotropic composite plates. Experimental measurements of specific damping capacity of unidirectional composite beams are used to predict the specific damping capacity of laminated composite plates in various modes of vibration. A finite element idealization is adopted, and the quadratic Lagrangian element is used together with selective/reduced integration. A viscous damping approximation is then employed to calculate the damped transient response of laminated plates. The effects of transverse shear deformation, symmetry condition, boundary conditions, anisotropy, aspect ratio, fibre orientation and the lamination scheme on specific damping capacity and damped transient response are investigated. Realistic examples illustrate the importance of these parameters. The present results agree very closely with experimental results available in the literature and can serve as a benchmark for future comparison by other investigators.     

Thermal postbuckling analysis of laminated composite plates by the finite element method

The thermal postbuckling behavior of composite laminated plates subjected to a nonuniform temperature field is investigated by the finite element method. Based on the principle of minimum potential energy, the nonlinear stiffness matrix and geometry matrix are derived. The assumed displacement state over the middle surface of the plate element is expressed as a product of one-dimensional, first-order Hermitian polynomials. An iterative method is employed to determine the thermal postbuckling load. The results of the computations reveal that the thermal postbuckling behavior of composite laminated plates is influenced by lamination angle, plate aspect ratio, modulus ratio and the number of layers.     

复合材料层合板屈曲稳定性优化设计及其灵敏度计算方法

笔者在有限元分析基础上研究了以屈曲稳定性作为约束条件或优化目标的复合材料层合板结构优化设计及其灵敏度分析方法,重点讨论了屈曲临界荷载灵敏度对内力场和载荷的依赖关系及其在铺层优化、尺寸优化和形状优化问题中的不同计算方法,并在JIFEX软件中实现了复杂结构复合材料层合板优化设计方法。数值算例验证了本文算法和程序的有效性。     

Lateral buckling analysis of thin-walled laminated channel-section beams

The lateral buckling of a laminated composite beam with channel section is studied. A general analytical model applicable to the lateral buckling of a channel-section composite beam subjected to various types of loadings is derived. This model is based on the classical lamination theory, and accounts for the material coupling for arbitrary laminate stacking sequence configuration and various boundary conditions. The effects of the location of applied loading on the buckling capacity are also included in the analysis. A displacement-based one-dimensional finite element model is developed to predict critical loads and corresponding buckling modes for a thin-walled composite beam with arbitrary boundary conditions. Numerical results are obtained for thin-walled composites under central point load, uniformly distributed load, and pure bending with angle-ply and laminates. The effects of fiber orientation, location of applied load, and types of loads on the critical buckling loads are parametrically studied.     

Maximum stiffness design of laminated composite plates via a constrained global optimization approach

The optimal lamination arrangements of laminated composite plates with maximum stiffness subject to side constraints are investigated via a constrained multi-start global optimization approach. In the optimal design process, the deformation analysis of laminated composite plates is accomplished by utilizing a shear deformable laminated composite finite element and the optimal design problem, which has been converted into an unconstrained minimization problem via the general augmented Lagrangian method, is solved by utilizing the proposed unconstrained multi-start global optimization technique to determine the optimal fiber angles and layer group thicknesses of the laminated composite plates for attaining maximum stiffness and simultaneously satisfying the imposed side constraints. The feasibility of the proposed constrained multi-start global optimization algorithm is validated by means of a simple but representative example and its applications are demonstrated by means of a number of examples on the maximum stiffness design of symmetrically laminated composite plates. The effects of length-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio, and number of layer groups upon the optimum fiber angles and layer group thicknesses of the plates are investigated.     

Dynamic stability of stiffened laminated composite plates and shells subjected to in-plane pulsating forces

The dynamic stability of laminated composite stiffened or non-stiffened plates and shells due to periodic in-plane forces at boundaries is investigated in this paper. A three-dimensional (3-D) degenerated shell element and a 3-D degenerated curved beam element are used to model plates/shells and stiffeners, respectively. The characteristic equations to find the natural frequencies, buckling loads and their corresponding mode shapes are obtained from the finite element equation of motion. Then, the method of Hill's infinite determinants or the method of multiple scales is applied to analyse the dynamic instability regions. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of various parameters, such as skew angle, lamination scheme, stiffened scheme, in-plane force type and curvature of cylindrical shell, on the dynamic stability of stiffened and non-stiffened plates and shells subjected to in-plane pulsating forces at boundaries.     

A penalty plate-bending element for the analysis of laminated anisotropic composite plates

A C⁰ (penalty) finite element is developed for the equations governing the heterogeneous laminated plate theory of Yang, Norris and Stavsky. The YNS theory is a generalization of Mindlin's theory for homogeneous, isotropic plates to arbitrarily laminated anisotropic plates and includes shear deformation and rotary inertia effects. The present element can also be used in the analysis of thin plates by appropriately specifying the penalty parameter. A variety of problems are solved, including those for which solutions are not available in the literature, to show the material effects and the parametric effects of plate aspect ratio, length-to-thickness ratio, lamination scheme, number of layers and lamination angle on the deflections, stresses, and vibration frequencies. Despite its simplicity, the present element gives very accurate results.     

Nonlinear static analysis of composite laminated plates with evolving damage

Considering geometric nonlinearity and damage evolution, the static response characteristics of laminated composite plates subjected to uniformly distributed loading are investigated using finite element approach based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The damage evolution is modeled employing generalized macroscopic continuum theory within the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. The governing nonlinear equations are solved using Newton–Raphson iterative technique. The resulting finite element-based continuum damage model enables to predict the progressive damage and failure load. A detailed parametric study is carried out to investigate the influences of damage evolution, boundary conditions, span-to-thickness ratio, and lamination scheme on the static response of laminated plates undergoing moderately large deformation. It is revealed that the in-plane stretching forces owing to geometric nonlinearity significantly influence the failure load, damage, and stress distribution for immovable thin laminates.     

Post-buckling behaviour of thermoplastic matrix composite laminates subjected to pure shear

The present study focuses on the determination of the buckling load and post-buckling behaviour of simply supported laminated composite rectangular panels loaded in shear. The nonlinear structural response is studied with a non-linear finite element approach. In order to determine the accuracy of the procedure, several tests have been performed comparing the finite element solutions for isotropic and laminated composite rectangular panels with existing ones, adopting different sequences of lamination and different length to width ratios. The analysis then considers the behaviour of laminates produced with innovative thermoplastic matrix composites developed in the frame of a national research program.     

Nonlinear Deflection Control of Laminated Plates Using Third-Order Shear Deformation Theory

In this paper, the third-order shear deformation theory is employed to study static and dynamic deflection control of laminated composite plates. The effects of shear deformation and geometric nonlinearity (in the von Kármán sense) on the bending and transient response are investigated using the finite element method. Magnetostrictive material, Terfenol-D, layers are used to actively control the deflection via simple negative velocity feedback control in a closed loop. The effects of the lamination scheme, types of load, and boundary conditions on the deflection are investigated.     

A design of laminated composite plates using graded orthotropic fiber-reinforced composite plies

A new lamination scheme is proposed through the design of a graded orthotropic fiber-reinforced composite ply for achieving continuous variations of material properties along the thickness direction of laminated composite plates. First, a micro-structure of graded unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite ply is designed and its effective graded elastic properties are estimated using finite element procedure. Next, the new lamination scheme is demonstrated through the conversion of a conventional laminated composite plate (CLCP) into a conventional-graded laminated composite plate (CGLCP) utilizing presently designed graded orthotropic composite ply. The suitability of this conversion/proposed lamination scheme is substantiated through the bending analysis of both the plates (CLCP and CGLCP).     

Buckling analysis of rectangular composite plates with rectangular cutout subjected to linearly varying in-plane loading using fem

A numerical study is carried out using finite element method, to examine the effects of square and rectangular cutout on the buckling behavior of a sixteen ply quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy symmetrically laminated rectangular composite plate [0°/+45°/-45°/90°]_2s, subjected to various linearly varying in-plane compressive loads. Further, this paper addresses the effects of size of square/rectangular cutout, orientation of square/rectangular cutout, plate aspect ratio(a/b), plate length/thickness ratio(a/t), boundary conditions on the buckling bahaviour of symmetrically laminated rectangular composite plates subjected to various linearly varying in-plane compressive loading. It is observed that the various linearly varying in-plane loads and boundary conditions have a substantial influence on buckling strength of rectangular composite plate with square/rectangular cutout.     

Buckling characteristics and layup optimization of long laminated composite cylindrical shells subjected to combined loads using lamination parameters

The buckling characteristics and layup optimization of long laminated composite cylindrical shells subjected to combined loads of axial compression and torsion are examined on the basis of Flügge’s theory. In the buckling analysis of long laminated composite cylindrical shells, 12 lamination parameters are introduced and used as design variables for layup optimization. Applying a variational approach, the feasible region in the design space of the 12 lamination parameters is numerically obtained. The buckling characteristics are discussed in the design space of the 12 lamination parameters. In the layup optimization, the optimum lamination parameters for maximizing the buckling loads and the laminate configurations for realizing the optimum lamination parameters are determined by mathematical programming methods. It is found that in case of combined loads of axial compression and torsion, the optimum laminate configurations are unsymmetric.     

基于灵敏度分析的复合材料层合板优化设计

工程结构中的复合材料层合板的几何参数往往具有随机性质.如何研究随机参数层合板的灵敏度,并对参数进行优化分析,这对正确估计结构设计的可靠性有着非常重要的意义.根据层合板的一阶剪切理论,采用样条有限元法,推导并建立了层合板的振动方程,刚度矩阵,质量矩阵,比例阻尼矩阵以及求解反对称层合板响应灵敏度的计算公式,在基于灵敏度分析的基础上,进行了复合材料层合板的基频分析和优化设计,并用网格法计算最佳铺层角.数值算例验证了算法的有效性.     

Buckling response of laminated composite stiffened plates subjected to partial in-plane edge loading

This article presents the buckling analysis of laminated composite stiffened plates subjected to partial in-plane edge loading. The finite element method is used to carry out the analysis. The eight-noded isoparametric degenerated shell element with C⁰ continuity and first-order shear deformation and a compatible three-noded curved beam element are used to model the plate skin and the stiffeners, respectively. The eigen value analysis is carried out to track the buckling load. The convergence study is performed for some specific problems and the results are compared with the available results in the literature. It is observed that the convergence of results is very fast for this finite element model. Effect of different parameters like orientation of fibers, number of layers, and loading types are considered in the present investigation. It is also observed that all these parameters have significant effect on the buckling response of the composite stiffened plate.     

Nonlinear analysis of bimodular composite plates under compression

The present work deals with the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of bimodular laminated composite plates. The fiber-governed bimodular constitutive model is adopted for the analysis and the geometrical nonlinearities are accounted for by using the consistent small strain and moderate rotation theory for a shear deformable Mindlin plate. Governing equations of the problem are developed and the finite element formulation is given using lagrangian C°-elements. Some numerical examples are developed to analyze the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of laminated bimodular plates.