Hygrothermal effects on the postbuckling of shear deformable laminated plates (Q5932319)

Using a micro-to-micro mechanical analytical model, the author investigates the influence of hygrothermal effects on the postbuckling of shear deformable laminated plates subjected to uniaxial compression. The material properties of laminaged composites are affected by variations of temperature and moisture, and are described by a micro-mechanical model. The governing equations of laminated plates are based on Reddy's higher-order shear deformation plate theory that includes hygrothermal effects and the initial geometric imperfection of the plate. The author considers two cases of in-plane boundary conditions, and employs a perturbation technique to determine buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths. The numerical illustrations concern the postbuckling behaviour of perfect and imperfect, antisymmetric angle-ply and symmetric cross-ply laminated plates under different environmental conditions. The author also studies the effects of temperature rise, degrees of moisture concentration, in-plane boundary conditions, transverse shear deformation, plate aspect ratio, total number of plies, fiber orientation, fiber volume fraction, and initial geometric imperfections. The results presented show that the buckling load and postbuckling strength will degrade with incrreasing moisture concentrations and temperatures.