Keywords: composite plates, through the width delaminations, higher order shear deformation, post buckling.

Kharazi et al. [1] have investigated the buckling of composite laminates with a through the width delamination using different plates theories. Their method is based on Rayleigh-Ritz approximation technique. Ovesy et al. [2] have investigated the effects of the bend-twist coupling terms on the buckling behaviour of the composite laminate with embedded delaminations based on the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Kharazi et al. [3] have investigated the compressive large deflection behavior of unsymmetric composite laminates with multiple through-the-width delaminations based on the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT).

In the current paper, the compressive post-buckling behaviour of orthotropic composite laminates with multiple through-the-width delaminations is investigated analytically based on the higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) assumptions. For modelling the laminate with two through-the-width delaminations, the laminate is divided into seven smaller regions. For each region the independent polynomial series are assumed as displacements fields. These series also satisfy the boundary conditions and the continuity requirements at the junctions. The contact phenomenon between delaminated surfaces is also considered in both of the present HSDT study and finite element analysis which is performed by using ANSYS 5.4 general purpose commercial software. The results of the current HSDT analysis and those from the finite element analysis are compared and the agreement between the results is very good. It is seen that the presence of delamination causes reduction in load carrying capacity of the laminate and the amount of reduction strongly depends on length and depth of delaminations. Moreover, it seems that a proper post-buckling analysis by taking into account the effects of the contact among the sublaminates of the delaminated plates similar to that developed in the current study is essential.

1

M. Kharazi, H.R. Ovesy, M. Taghizadeh, "Buckling of the Composite Laminates Containing Through-The-With Delaminations Using Different Plates Theories", Journal of Composite Structures, 92, 1176-1183, 2010. doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2009.10.019

2

H.R. Ovesy, M. Kharazi, M. Taghizadeh, "The Effects of Bend-Twist Coupling Terms on the Buckling Behaviour of the Composite Laminates Containing Embedded Delaminations", in A. Ferreira, (Editor), "Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Composite Structures", Porto, Portugal, 2009.

3

M. Kharazi, H.R. Ovesy, "Large Deflection Compressional Analysis of Unsymmetric Delaminated Composite Plates with Consideration of Contact Phenomenon", Applied Composite Materials, 17(5), 515-528, 2010. doi:10.1007/s10443-010-9167-6

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £145 +P&P)