Improved compression buckling for rectangular composite plates by stiffness tailoring

Buckling resistance is often a controlling criterion in the design of structural elements. Design concepts that lead to increased buckling loads (or strains) can directly lower the structural cost and/or weight by a number of means. This study quantifies the improvements that can be achieved in compression buckling loads of rectangular composite plates by using a simple stiffness tailoring concept. The approach is to position the unidirectional lamina through the thickness and over the planform of the plate so that the buckling load is increased with no loss in in-plane stiffness or increase in weight. Finite element analyses have been used to determine the effects of tailoring on the buckling load of plates with various boundary conditions, aspect ratios, thicknesses, and membrane stiffnesses. Increases in buckling loads (or strains) of nearly 200 percent over the uniform plate buckling loads are shown possible with this tailoring concept.