Cyclic Buckling Tests of CFRP Curved Panels

Experimental results obtained on three carbon fibre composite stiffened curved panels subjected to static and cyclic compression and shear loadings are presented. The results obtained from static tests performed on two panels are described in terms of global axial load vs. shortening curve, torque vs. rotation curve, and strain measurements. A third panel was subjected to a cyclic loading, at 2 Hz, from above zero till 1.6 times its static buckling load, allowing the investigation of the effect of cyclic buckling in terms of axial load vs. shortening behaviour and strain measurements. The obtained results show that this kind of structures can well work in the post-buckling field even if during their operative life the buckling load is reached thousands of times