An investigation of square delamination effects on the buckling behavior of laminated composite plates with a square hole by using three-dimensional FEM analysis

ABSTRACT: In the present study, the effects of the square delamination, around a square hole, on the buckling loads of the simply supported and clamped woven steel-reinforced thermoplastic (LDPE, F.2.12) laminated composite plates have been investigated. Three-dimensional finite element models of laminated plates with four layers have been established. The square delaminations exist between second/third layers. The stacking sequences are chosen as [0]4, [15/15]s, [15/15]2, [30/30]s, [30/30]2, [45]4. Firstly the harmony between theoretical and finite element solution results of the plate without hole and delamination has been shown. Then, the buckling loads have been determined for each of the models having different square delamination dimensions. Significant decreases in the buckling loads occur after a certain value of delamination dimension. It is seen, for clamped plates that the changing ratios of the results of the symmetric or antisymmetric cases are approximately the same and there is a linear relationship between the values of the fiber angles and buckling loads. KEY WORDS: square delamination, buckling analyses, laminated composite