Influence of micromechanics in composite panels buckling loads

Abstract

In-plane compression loads may cause buckling of fiber-reinforced composite panels. An accurate knowledge of these critical buckling loads is essential for structural design. In all cases of buckling of panels, critical loads increases with the increase in the thickness of the panel, however, more economical solutions can be obtained by keeping the thickness of the plate as small as possible and increasing the stability by considering micromechanical aspect such as: fiber orientation relative to axial direction, fiber aspect ratio or fiber volume fraction. This paper presents some parametric studies to study the influence of micromechanics in the critical buckling load of fiber-reinforced plates and curved panels.