Buckling Analysis of Thin-Walled Composite Structures with Rectangular Cross-Sections under Compressive Load

Abstract

The purpose of this research was the analysis of the stability of compressed thin-walled composite columns with closed rectangular cross-sections, subjected to axial load. The test specimens (made of carbon–epoxy composite) were characterized by different lay-ups of the composite material. Experimental tests were carried out using a universal testing machine and other interdisciplinary testing techniques, such as an optical strain measurement system. Simultaneously with the experimental studies, numerical simulations were carried out using the finite element method. In the case of FEA simulations, original numerical models were derived. In the case of both experimental research and FEM simulations, an in-depth investigation of buckling states was carried out. The measurable effect of the research was to determine both the influence of the cross-sectional shape and the lay-up of the composite layers on the stability of the structure. The novelty of the present paper is the use of interdisciplinary research techniques in order to determine the critical state of compressed thin-walled composite structures with closed sections. An additional novelty is the object of study itself—that is, thin-walled composite columns with closed sections.

Load-Carrying Capacity of Thin-Walled Composite Columns with Rectangular Cross-Section under Axial Compression

“…The outcome of this operation is to determine the buckling form of a thin-walled composite column. The results of the work within the first stage described above are thoroughly explained by the authors in the paper [37]. By obtaining the critical force and the buckling mode, one could determine the critical state of the structure.…”

“…The buckling phase was identified through the observation of the buckling shape of the construction, and approximation methods were used to determine the critical loads [15,23]. Studies of this stage have been included in previous publications, which described profiles with square [38] and rectangular [37] cross-sections, respectively.…”

“…The study showed that a mesh size of 2 mm produced the most similar analysis results to those obtained from experimental studies. Exemplary analysis of the influence of mesh size on the accuracy of the obtained results was presented for closed-section profiles in the paper [37].…”

“…The research was conducted under the National Science Centre project (Poland)-number 2021/41/B/ST8/00148. The studies conducted in this article are a follow-up and an extension of the research presented in the papers [37,38].…”