The effects of bend–twist coupling on the post-buckling characteristics of composite laminated plates using semi-energy finite strip approach

In composite laminated plates various mechanical properties may be attained by changing the lay-up arrangement. The bent–twist coupling is one of the significant properties which dominate the mechanical performance of a laminated plate structure in large out-of-plane deformations. The effects of bend–twist coupling on the post-buckling behavior of composite laminated plates have been studied in this paper by implementing a finite strip approach based on the concept of a rigorous post-buckling solution for composite plates and plate structures, namely the semi-energy approach. All the plates are assumed to be symmetrically balanced laminates having uniform in-plane stiffness properties. As far as the out-of-plane stiffness properties are concerned, all the properties, except for the bend–twist coupling terms which are assumed to change from one laminate to another, are the same among different laminates. The orthotropic solutions have also been determined by precluding the bend–twist coupling terms. A comprehensive set of parametric studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of bend–twist coupling terms on the post-buckling load–displacement path, post-buckling deformations and stress distribution. The comparison between the results revealed markedly different behaviors among different laminates due to the bend–twist coupling effects. The outcome of the paper can help structural designers to have a better understanding of the effects of bend–twist coupling terms on the post-buckling behavior of laminated composite plates at the design stage.