Exploratory study on the influence of geometric parameters on buckling and post-buckling behaviors of composite curved plates under external pressure

Abstract

Abstract This paper investigates the effects of various geometric parameters, such as ply angle, side length, aspect ratio, curvature, and thickness, on the buckling and post-buckling behaviors of composite curved plates under external pressure. For this purpose, a model for nonlinear buckling analysis is proposed, and an experimental device is designed for the study. Analysis results indicate that the external pressure deformation of the composite curved plate can be divided into three stages: non-buckling, buckling, and post-buckling stages. The buckling region of the curved plate under external pressure is primarily localized in two regions: the central region of the curved plate (an ellipse) and the non-central region (two ellipses). Buckling occurs in one of these two regions based on the geometric parameters of the curved plate, and in a few cases, it occurs in both regions simultaneously. The study found that a few curved plates with specific geometric parameters exhibit instability in the post-buckling stage. Moreover, the study results indicate the significant changes in the critical buckling external pressure of the curved plates in response to changes in the geometric parameters of the curved plates.