Strength reduction and delamination growth in thin and thick composite plates under compressive loading (Q1898443)

The coupled local-global buckling behavior in laminated composite plates with elliptic delaminations and the associated mechanisms of delamination growth under compressive load are examined by using a finite element method. A quasi-conforming three-noded plate element based on Reissner-Mindlin plate theory and the multi-plate modeling technique are used to model the delaminated plates. Gauss elimination algorithm is used to solve the incremental equations in a cycle of Newton-Raphson iterations. Arc-length controlled load incrementation and a linearised asymptotic solution for branch switching are used for effectively passing both limit and bifurcation points. The post-buckling solution and the energy release rate models are validated using a simple classical problem -- isotropic square plate with central near-surface delamination. Influence of the following structural parameters on the local and global buckling strengths of the structure and on the pointwise energy release rates along the delamination front are studied: (i) delaminate plate thickness, (ii) aspect ratio of the delamination, (iii) size of delamination, (iv) total laminate thickness, (v) material orthotropy, (vi) fiber orientation, (vii) antisymmetric laminate with symmetric/antisymmetric delaminate plates, (viii) symmetric laminate with symmetric/asymmetric delaminate plates. The influence of these parameters are examined by using the reduction of the structural strength against buckling, coupling of local and global post-buckling solutions, and pointwise energy release rate at the delamination front. Several observations are made regarding the post-buckling failure mechanisms.