Finite Element Analysis of the Stability (Buckling and Post-Buckling) of Composite Laminated Structures: Well Established Procedures and Challenges

Abstract

Finite element procedures for the analysis of composite structures under compressive loads (buckling and post-buckling) generally are not deployed in books because they are still considered object of research whereas they are deemed as assessed by researchers that focus their papers on restricted audience topics. Therefore, regarding these procedures, a gap exists in literature between what researchers consider as well established and what has been already published. The aim of this paper is to contribute to close this gap by providing an insight in linear and non-linear buckling analyses and in their use with composite structures. Both modelling and analysis considerations are presented and discussed, focusing on what can be considered as best practice when dealing with this kind of problems. Applications (to a stiffened panel and to a wing box) are provided for demonstrating the effectiveness of the procedures presented.

Virtual Crack Closure Technique and Finite Element Method for Predicting the Delamination Growth Initiation in Composite Structures

“…The load is applied on BC in the x direction. A displacement controlled non-linear analysis has been performed (Pietropaoli & Riccio, 2010c) and the results obtained are shown in Figure 10 in terms of "applied displacement" versus "out of plane displacement" graph. The value of the CR ε obtained by this graph (Leissa, 1987) is above 1370με, the one computed by Sun et al (2001) was above 1350με.…”

Shear buckling of aerospace panels made by induction welded thermoplastic matrix composite elements

“…Eventually, a numerical FE model was developed also to simulate the non‐linear transient behavior of the entire structure and to evaluate buckling events (critical load, as in Reference 30 and postbuckling phenomena as in Reference 31). It was found that, in the present work, the high deformation gradients due to the buckling phenomenon could be described properly, in the Ansys environment, only setting a specific time step (i.e., 0.01 s) for a nonlinear transient analysis: this was the only numerical procedure, using the Ansys code, that guaranteed, for the case of study, convergence during the entire FE analyses.…”

Methodology for Evaluating Manufacturability of Composite Materials

“…Compared with the prohibitively expensive method of iterative testing, FEM simulations based on the physical model are now mature and increasingly accepted techniques for process simulation and optimization of composite structures. Recently, there are a number of studies developed to support the prediction of different quality issues in polymer composite processes such as stability of composite structures [12,13], porosity [14][15][16][17][18], un-uniform cure degree [19], delamination [20,21], residual strains [22], etc.…”