BUCKLING STUDIES FOR SIMPLY SUPPORTED SYMMETRICALLY LAMINATED RECTANGULAR-PLATES

Extensive and accurate numerical results are presented for the critical buckling loads of simply supported, rectangular, laminated composite plates subjected to five types of loading conditions: (1) uniaxial, (2) hydrostatic biaxial, (3) compression-tension biaxial, (4) positive shear and (5) negative shear. Considerably different results are found for the two types of shear loading for angle-ply composites. The Ritz method, along with displacements assumed in the form of a double sine series, is used to solve the problems. Convergence studies are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the results. Contour plots of the buckled mode shapes are shown for some of the more interesting plate and loading configurations. © 1990.