FEM buckling analysis of quasi-isotropic symmetrically laminated rectangular composite plates with a square/rectangular cutout.

A numerical study was conducted using the finite element method to determine the effects of square and rectangular cutouts on the buckling behavior of a 16-ply quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy symmetrically laminated rectangular composite plate. The square/ rectangular cutouts were subjected to uniaxial compression loading. This study addresses the effects of the size of the square/rectangular cutout, orientation of the square/rectangular cutout, plate aspect ratio (a/b), and plate length/thickness ratio (a/t) on the buckling behavior of the symmetrically laminated rectangular composite plate under uniaxial compression loading. Buckling loads were computed for seven different quasi-isotropic laminate configurations [0°/+45°/−45°/90°], [15°/+60°/−30°/−75°], [30°/+75°/−15°/−60°], [45°/+90°/0°/−45°], [60°/−75°/+15°/−30°], [75°/−60°/+30°/−15°], [90°/−45°/+45/°0°]. Results showed that the magnitudes of the buckling loads decrease with increasing cutout positioned angle as well as c/b and d/b ratios for plates with a rectangular cutout. The symmetrically laminated quasi-isotropic [0°/+45°/−45°/90°] composite plate is stronger than all other symmetrically analyzed laminated quasi-isotropic composite plates. The magnitudes of the buckling loads of a rectangular composite plate with square/rectangular cutout decrease with increasing plate aspect ratio (a/b) and plate length/thickness (a/t) ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]