Delamination buckling of a curved composite beam subjected to a closing bending moment

The snap buckling case in a curved composite beam under a closing bending moment is dealt with. A theoretical approach is developed for the non-linear problem of delamination buckling which is likely to occur in curved composite structures. The approach is based on large deflection characterisation of a curved beam, coupled with fracture mechanics concepts. The general solution is applied to analyse a special case in which delamination occurs very close to inner surface of the beam and snap buckling happens in this delaminated thin layer. The effect of the arc angle of delamination crack on the critical load is also studied