Progressive Failure Analysis for Prediction of Post-buckling Compressive Strength of Laminated Composite Plates and Stiffened Panels

Abstract

A progressive failure analysis for prediction of the post-buckling compressive strength of laminated composite plates and stiffened panels is presented. A non-linear finite element code with a new explicit through-thickness integration scheme is proposed for the prediction of the structural responses. A progressive failure analysis is then developed with use of the finite element code coupled with the Tsai—Wu criterion and a limited property degradation model to determine the post-buckling compressive strength of laminated composite plates and stiffened panels. The numerical accuracy and the computational efficiency of the progressive failure analysis were evaluated with reference to the available experimental data, the numerical results of several references, and the analysis with use of the traditional finite element model. A parametric study to investigate the effects of the stacking sequences and the lamina thickness on the post-buckling compressive strength of laminated composite plates and stiffened panels is performed.