Buckling analysis of circular and annular composite plates reinforced with carbon nanotubes using FEM

The critical compressive load in the buckling of circular and annular composite plates reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is calculated using finite element method. The developed model is based on the third-order shear deformation theory for moderately thick laminated plates. Effects of CNTs orientation angles and thickness-to-inner radius ratio on the buckling of composite plates are discussed. The results are compared with those obtained by analytical method based on classical plate theory. The finite element method shows lower values for critical buckling load because of the elimination of shear strain in the classical plate theory.     

Thermomechanical buckling of laminated composite and sandwich plates using global–local higher order theory

In this paper, a global–local higher order theory has been used to study buckling response of the laminated composite and sandwich plates subjected to thermal/mechanical compressive loads. The present global–local theory satisfies the free surface conditions and the geometric and stress continuity conditions at interfaces, and the number of unknowns is independent of the layer numbers of the laminate. Based on this higher-order theory, a refined three-noded triangular element satisfying C¹ weak-continuity conditions has been also proposed. The present theory not only predicts accurately the buckling response of general laminated composite plates but also calculates the critical buckling loads of the soft-core sandwich plates. However, numerical results show that the global higher-order theories as well as first order theories encounter some difficulties and overestimate the critical buckling loads for the sandwich plates with a soft core.     

Thermal buckling behavior of laminated composite plates: a finite-element study

In this paper, the thermal buckling behavior of composite laminated plates under a uniform temperature distribution is studied. A finite element of four nodes and 32 degrees of freedom (DOF), previously developed for the bending and mechanical buckling of laminated composite plates, is extended to investigate the thermal buckling behavior of laminated composite plates. Based upon the classical plate theory, the present finite element is a combination of a linear isoparametric membrane element and a high precision rectangular Hermitian element. The numerical implementation of the present finite element allowed the comparison of the numerical obtained results with results obtained from the literature: 1) with element of the same order, 2) the first order shear deformation theory, 3) the high order shear deformation theory and 4) the three-dimensional solution. It was found that the obtained results were very close to the reference results and the proposed element offers a good convergence speed. Furthermore, a parametrical study was also conducted to investigate the effect of the anisotropy of composite materials on the critical buckling temperature of laminated plates. The study showed that: 1) the critical buckling temperature generally decreases with the increasing of the modulus ratio E _L/E _T and thermal expansion ratio α _T/α _L, and 2) the boundary conditions and the orientation angles significantly affect the critical buckling temperature of laminated plates.     

Buckling of symmetrically laminated rectangular plates under parabolic edge compressions

Buckling analysis of symmetrically laminated rectangular plates with parabolic distributed in-plane compressive loadings along two opposite edges is performed using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. Classical laminated plate theory is adopted. Stress functions satisfying all stress boundary conditions are constructed based on the Chebyshev polynomials. Displacement functions for buckling analysis are constructed by Chebyshev polynomials multiplying with functions that satisfy either simply supported or clamped boundary condition along four edges. Methodology and procedures are worked out in detail. Buckling loads for symmetrically laminated plates with four combinations of boundary conditions are obtained. The proposed method is verified by comparing results to data obtained by the differential quadrature method (DQM) and the finite element method (FEM). Numerical example also shows that the double sine series displacement for simply supported symmetrically laminated plates having bending-twisting coupling may overestimate the stiffness, thus providing higher buckling loads.     

Generalized buckling analysis of laminated plates with random material properties using stochastic finite elements

A generalized layer-wise stochastic finite element formulation is developed for the buckling analysis of both homogeneous and laminated plates with random material properties. The pre-buckled stresses are considered in the derivation of geometric stiffness matrix and the effect of variation in these stresses on the mean and coefficient of variation of buckling strength is studied. The mean buckling strength of plates under uniform stress assumption exactly matches with those reported in the literature. However, it is shown that the actual mean buckling strength of plates can be significantly different based on the pre-buckled stress analysis which depends on boundary constraints, principal material directions, aspect and thickness ratios of plates. The statistics of buckling strength is determined using a Taylor series expansion based mean centered first order perturbation technique. The stochastic finite element solutions obtained using layer-wise plate theory is also validated with analytical solutions presented in this paper. Parametric studies are conducted for different aspect ratios, ply orientations and boundary conditions.     

Buckling analysis of laminated plates using the extended Kantorovich method and a system of first-order differential equations

The extended Kantorovich method using multi-term displacement functions is applied to the buckling problem of laminated plates with various boundary conditions. The out-of-plane displacement of the buckled plate is written as a series of products of functions of parameter x and functions of parameter y. With known functions in parameter x or parameter y, a set of governing equations and a set of boundary conditions are obtained after applying the variational principle to the total potential energy of the system. The higher order differential equations are then transformed into a set of first-order differential equations and solved for the buckling load and mode. Since the governing equations are first-order differential equations, solutions can be obtained analytically with the out-of-plane displacement written in the form of an exponential function. The solutions from the proposed technique are verified with solutions from the literature and FEM solutions. The bucking loads correspond very well to other available solutions in most of the comparisons. The buckling modes also compare very well with the finite element solutions. The proposed solution technique transforms higher-order differential equations to first-order differential equations, and they are analytically solved for out-of-plane displacement in the form of an exponential function. Therefore, the proposed solution technique yields a solution which can be considered as an analytical solution.     

Thermal buckling analysis of annular FGM plate having variable thickness under thermal load of arbitrary distribution by finite element method

In this paper, a finite element formulation is developed for analyzing the axisymmetric thermal buckling of FGM annular plates of variable thickness subjected to thermal loads generally distributed nonuniformly along the plate radial coordinate. The FGM assumed to be isotropic with material properties graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power-law in terms of the plate thickness coordinate, and has symmetry with respect to the plate midplane. At first, the pre-buckling plane elasticity problem is developed and solved using the finite element method, to determine the distribution of the pre-buckling in-plane forces in terms of the temperature rise distribution. Subsequently, based on Kierchhoff plate theory and using the principle of minimum total potential energy, the weak form of the differential equation governing the plate thermal stability is derived, then by employing the finite element method, the stability equations are solved numerically to evaluate the thermal buckling load factor. Convergence and validation of the presented finite element model are investigated by comparing the numerical results with those available in the literature. Parametric studies are carried out to cover the effects of parameters including thickness-to-radius ratio, taper parameter and boundary conditions on the thermal buckling load factor of the plates.     

Improved flexural–torsional stability analysis of thin-walled composite beam and exact stiffness matrix

A simple but efficient method to evaluate the exact element stiffness matrix is newly presented in order to perform the spatially coupled stability analysis of thin-walled composite beams with symmetric and arbitrary laminations subjected to a compressive force. For this, the general bifurcation-type buckling theory of thin-walled composite beam is developed based on the energy functional, which is consistently obtained corresponding to semitangential rotations and semitangential moments. A numerical procedure is proposed by deriving a generalized eigenvalue problem associated with 14 displacement parameters, which produces both complex eigenvalues and multiple zero eigenvalues. Then the exact displacement functions are constructed by combining eigenvectors and polynomial solutions corresponding to non-zero and zero eigenvalues, respectively. Consequently exact element stiffness matrices are evaluated by applying member force–displacement relationships to these displacement functions. As a special case, the analytical solutions for buckling loads of unidirectional and cross-ply laminated composite beams with various boundary conditions are derived. Finally, the finite element procedure based on Hermitian interpolation polynomial is developed. In order to verify the accuracy and validity of this study, the numerical, analytical, and the finite element solutions using the Hermitian beam elements are presented and compared with those from ABAQUS's shell elements. The effects of fiber orientation and the Wagner effect on the coupled buckling loads are also investigated intensively.     

Stability behaviour of arbitrarily laminated composite plates with free and elastically restrained unloaded edges

In this paper, the initial buckling loads and the corresponding buckling modes of symmetric rectangular laminated plates are investigated. The considered laminates are supposed to have a uniform thickness, are subjected to a linearly distributed inplane compressive normal load and are simply supported at the two loaded edges with one free unloaded plate edge and with one simply supported unloaded edge where elastic rotational restraints are considered. Unlike in many other investigations, the composite laminates presently under consideration may have arbitrary yet symmetric lamination schemes with bending–torsion coupling. The initial buckling loads of such plates are calculated using the RITZ-method for which some especially adjusted displacement shape functions are employed. Since a series expansion of the buckling shape is performed in the load direction only while in the perpendicular direction one single displacement function can be shown to be sufficient, the present approach is numerically very efficient when compared to approaches in which a series representation is chosen with respect to both inplane directions. Comparison with reference results and with finite element computations leads to an excellent agreement. Some new findings on the general stability behaviour of this class of laminated plates are presented as a closure.     

Parametric studies on buckling loads and critical speeds of microdrill bits

Transverse bending vibrations of the spinning microdrill bit subjected to a compressive axial load are developed based on the Timoshenko beam theory. The system equations of motion are discretized into the form of time-dependent ordinary differential equations by the finite element method. Two types of eigenvalue problems are formulated and utilized to study the effects of the drill helix angle, flute length and diameter on the buckling load and critical speed of microdrill bits with different supported ends. Equivalent formulae similar to those of untwisted Euler beams are established to predict critical buckling loads and critical speeds for microdrills and provide results with sufficient accuracy. The effect of rotational speed on the buckling load, and the influence of thrust force on critical speed are also investigated. A Galef-type equation associated with critical speed, thrust force and buckling load is formulated.     

Buckling of composite beams with two non-overlapping delaminations: Lower and upper bounds

In this paper, lower and upper bounds of the buckling load of a composite beam with two non-overlapping delaminations are obtained by developing analytical models. The characteristic equation governing the delamination buckling is derived by using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, performing proper linearization and by imposing the appropriate continuity and boundary conditions. The effects of the differential stretching and the bending-extension coupling are considered. The accuracy of the approach is verified by comparing results with previously published data and a separately carried out finite element analysis. The effects of the dimensions of the delaminations, their thicknesswise and spanwise locations on the lower and upper bounds of the buckling load are investigated in detail. The longer of the two non-overlapping delaminations dominates the buckling behavior. Composite beams with anti-symmetric non-overlapping delaminations withstand lower buckling loads than the composite beams with symmetric non-overlapping delaminations. The lower and upper bounds of the buckling load will be useful to gauge the working range of bridging and give guidelines for practical applications.     

Buckling of rectangular plates with various boundary conditions loaded by non-uniform inplane loads

In the present paper, buckling loads of rectangular composite plates having nine sets of different boundary conditions and subjected to non-uniform inplane loading are presented considering higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT). As the applied inplane load is non-uniform, the buckling load is evaluated in two steps. In the first step the plane elasticity problem is solved to evaluate the stress distribution within the prebuckling range. Using the above stress distribution the plate buckling equations are derived from the principle of minimum total potential energy. Adopting Galerkin's approximation, the governing partial differential equations are converted into a set of homogeneous linear algebraic equations. The critical buckling load is obtained from the solution of the associated linear eigenvalue problem. The present buckling loads are compared with the published results wherever available. The buckling loads obtained from the present method for plate with various boundary conditions and subjected to non-uniform inplane loading are found to be in excellent agreement with those obtained from commercial software ANSYS. Buckling mode shapes of plate for different boundary conditions with non-uniform inplane loadings are also presented.     

Spline finite strip analysis of the buckling and vibration of composite prismatic plate structures

A spline finite strip capability is described for predicting the buckling stresses and natural frequencies of vibration of prismatic plate structures which may be of composite laminated construction with arbitrary lay-ups. The plate structures may have general boundary conditions. The capability embraces analyses based on the use of first-order shear deformation plate theory and of classical plate theory, and utilizes substructuring procedures which include the use of superstrips. The theoretical development is not detailed since the present paper reports a very direct extension of a theoretical study developed for the analysis of single plates in an earlier paper in this Journal. A considerable range of buckling and vibration applications is documented and comparison of spline finite strip numerical values of buckling stresses and frequencies is made with results generated using the semi-analytical finite strip method and, in some cases, the finite element method. Buckled and vibrational mode shapes are presented for some applications.     

Hygrothermal effects on the postbuckling of shear deformable laminated plates

The influence of hygrothermal effects on the postbuckling of shear deformable laminated plates subjected to a uniaxial compression is investigated using a micro-to-macro-mechanical analytical model. The material properties of the composite are affected by the variation of temperature and moisture, and are based on a micro-mechanical model of a laminate. The governing equations of a laminated plate are based on Reddy's higher-order shear deformation plate theory that includes hygrothermal effects. The initial geometric imperfection of the plate is taken into account. Two cases of the in-plane boundary conditions are considered. A perturbation technique is employed to determine buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths. The numerical illustrations concern the postbuckling behavior of perfect and imperfect, antisymmetric angle-ply and symmetric cross-ply laminated plates under different sets of environmental conditions. The influences played by temperature rise, the degree of moisture concentration, the character of in-plane boundary conditions, transverse shear deformation, plate aspect ratio, total number of plies, fiber orientation, fiber volume fraction and initial geometric imperfections are studied.     

Linear and nonlinear buckling analysis of a locally stretched plate

Uniformly stretched thin plates do not buckle unless they are in special boundary conditions. However, buckling commonly occurs around discontinuities, such as cracks, cuts, narrow slits, holes, and different openings, of such plates. This study aims to show that buckling can also occur in thin plates that contain no defect or singularity when the stretching is local. This specific stability problem is analyzed with the finite element method. A brief literature review on stretched plates is presented. Linear and nonlinear buckling stress analyses are conducted for a partially stretched rectangular plate, and various load cases are considered to investigate the influence of the partial loading expanse on the critical tensile buckling load. Results are summarized in iso-stress areas, tables and graphs. Local stretching on one end of the plate induces buckling in the thin plate even without geometrical imperfection.     

汽车玻璃的静力学特性和冲击破坏现象

应用试验和数值仿真方法对汽车玻璃的静态特性和破坏机理进行了研究.首先,使用有限元法对汽车玻璃梁受集中载荷下的静力响应进行分析.通过与一般叠层板理论的比较,揭示出汽车玻璃与一般叠层复合材料板完全不同的静力学弯曲特性.然后,设计了汽车玻璃梁冲击破坏试验,使用高速照相机并结合光弹试验装置,记录了冲击点附近的裂口发生和发展过程,并从应力波传播的角度,对试验结果进行了分析.最后,应用离散元法对这一冲击破坏过程进行模拟,通过考察冲击点附近的裂口发生和发展过程并与试验结果相比较,验证离散元法分析汽车玻璃冲击破坏现象的有效性.     

Post-buckling and delamination propagation behavior of composite laminates with embedded delamination

Delamination occurred due to poor manufacturing process or in-service actions significantly affects the mechanical and failure behavior of laminated composite structures. In this study, the buckling and post-buckling delamination behavior of laminated composite with an embedded initial delamination under in-plane compression was studied experimentally and numerically. First, compression tests for laminated composite specimens with embeded initial delamination were performed and the buckling and delamination responses were obtained. Then the experimental test was numerically simulated using finite element methods with the progressive failure accounted for by using cohesive zone modeling. The load-displacement curve, strain behavior and delamination shapes of experimental specimens obtained from load cells, strain gages installed at different locations, and C scan images, respectively, were compared with the FEM results, and good agreements were attained. The effect of the buckling modes, laminate stacking sequence and shape of initial delamination on the buckling load and propagation behavior was studied by considering different ply stacking and shapes of initial delaminations. It was found that the buckling mode determined the growth direction of the delamination propagation, and the stacking sequence influenced the extent of the propagation area, while the orientation of the delamination affected the buckling loads.     

Bending and buckling of thick symmetric rectangular laminates using the moving least-squares differential quadrature method

In this paper, the moving least-squares differential quadrature (MLSDQ) method is applied to the bending and buckling analyses of moderately thick symmetric laminates based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The transverse deflection and two rotations of the laminate are independently assumed with the moving least-squares (MLS) approximation. The weighting coefficients used in the MLSDQ approximation are obtained through a fast computation of the MLS shape functions and their partial derivatives. Numerical examples are illustrated to study the accuracy, stability and convergence of the MLSDQ method. The typical displacements, stresses and critical buckling loads of various laminated plates are presented and compared with the analytical values. Effects of support size, order of the complete basis functions and node irregularity on the numerical accuracy are investigated.     

Buckling analysis of FGM plates under uniform,linear and non-linear in-plane loading

The paper investigates the buckling responses of functionally graded material (FGM) plate subjected to uniform, linear, and non-linear in-plane loads. New nonlinear in-plane load models are proposed based on trigonometric and exponential function. Non-dimensional critical buckling loads are evaluated using non-polynomial based higher order shear deformation theory. Navier’s method, which assures minimum numerical error, is employed to get an accurate explicit solution. The equilibrium conditions are determined utilizing the principle of virtual displacements and material property are graded in the thickness direction using simple Voigt model or exponential law. The present formulation is accurate and efficient in analyzing the behavior of thin, thick and moderately thick FGM plate for buckling analysis. It is found that with the help of displacement-buckling load curve, critical buckling load can be derived and maximum displacement due to the instability of inplane load can be obtained. Also, the randomness in the values of transverse displacement due to inplane load increases as the extent of uniformity of the load on the plate is disturbed. Furthermore, the parametric varying studies are performed to analyse the effect of span-to-thickness ratio, volume fraction exponent, aspect ratio, the shape parameter for non-uniform inplane load, and non-dimensional load parameter on the non-dimensional deflections, stresses, and critical buckling load for FGM plates.

     

Finite element analysis of stress concentrations and failure criteria in composite plates with circular holes

In this study, the stress concentration factors (SCF) in cross-and-angle-ply laminated composite plates as well as in isotropic plates with single circular holes subjected to uniaxial loading is studied. A quadrilateral finite element of four-node with 32 degrees of freedom at each node, previously developed for the bending and mechanical buckling of laminated composite plates, is used to evaluate the stress distribution in laminated composite plates with central circular holes. Based up on the classical plate theory, the present finite element is a combination of a linear isoparametric membrane element and a high precision rectangular Hermitian element. The numerical results obtained by the present element compare favorably with those obtained by the analytic approaches published in literature. It is observed that the obtained results are very close to the reference results, which demonstrates the accuracy of the present element. Additionally, to determine the first ply failure (FPF) of laminated plate, several failure criterions are employed. Finally, to show the effect of E ₁/E ₂ ratio on the failure of plates, a number of figures are given for different fiber orientation angles.