On the buckling behavior of thin walled laminated composite open section beams

A new thin-walled laminated composite open section beam model and corresporitling h u c k l i ~ ~ g analysis ~nethotlology are presented wliich are created to accurately, but simply, characterize response. Simplicity is achieved 1, ). asswriing the form for the displacerncnt field that is col~sistent witli linear theory. .%rbitrary larniriatecl composite coirstructio~i is considered. T r a n s ~ v r s r shear deformation is accounted for as this effect is far more pronounced for con~posi te rriaterials than for conventional mc,tallic materials. i7alidation of predictions based upon the new nod el with tests and rxtcmsivc finite elerrlent si~nulations are given.