The influence of bend–twist coupling on the shear buckling response of thin laminated composite plates

The finite strip method of analysis has been used in this paper to examine the effect of bend–twist coupling on the shear buckling behaviour of laminated composite constructions. The distorted nodal lines of the shear buckling mode and its complex deformation state in general are readily accounted for in the analysis procedure through the multi-term nature of the finite strip buckling displacement field and the appropriate level of structural modelling. The degree of bend–twist coupling in the laminated composite plates is varied by changing the level of anisotropy in the plies and by altering the lay-up configuration of the plies in the laminated stack. Symmetric laminates of a balanced and unbalanced nature are given consideration. It is shown that, for a given degree of anisotropy in the plies of a laminate and for a given laminate thickness, the stacking sequence of the plies significantly alters the degree of bend–twist coupling. The shear buckling performance of composite plates having the same dimensions and being made from the same material are therefore shown in the paper to be quite different. The preclusion of the bend–twist coupling coefficients in the solution procedure of the finite strip method allows the shear buckling orthotropic solution to be determined. Comparisons between the coupled and orthotropic solutions are shown in the paper to be markedly different.