Postbuckling behaviors of open section composite struts with edge delamination using a layerwise theory

Abstract We investigate the mechanical stability of L-section and T-section composite struts with single edge delamination. We propose a solution procedure based on a layerwise theory and the first order shear deformation theory by taking into consideration of the von Karman geometrical nonlinearity. We derive the nonlinear equilibrium equations according to the minimum total potential energy principle, and solve them using Rayleigh–Ritz method and Newton–Raphson method. In modeling the delaminated L-section and T-section struts, we divide the structures into regions, and exert continuity conditions between different regions. The proposed model is capable of analyzing both local buckling of the base laminate and sublaminate as well as the global buckling of the whole structure. We present numerical results to provide an insight into effects of size of delamination on buckling mode and post-buckling behaviors of the struts. We perform the three-dimensional finite element analysis using the ABAQUS commercial software. The results show a very good agreement with those obtained by the analytical method. The results indicate that the presence of delaminations not only reduces the load-carrying capacity of open section struts remarkably, but also plays a pivotal role in the critical buckling load and buckling mode shape of the struts.