Buckling characteristics of symmetrically and antisymmetrically laminated composite plates with central cutout

A numerical and experimental study was carried out to determine the effects of anti-symmetric laminate configuration, cutout and length/thickness ratio on the buckling behavior of E/glass-epoxy composite plates. The buckling loads were presented for symmetrically and anti-symmetrically laminated plates subjected to axial compression load. The study included two different laminate configurations ([90/45/-45/0](as) and [90/45/-45/0](s)), two different cutout shapes (circular and semi-circular), two different length/thickness ratios (L/t=75 and 37.5) and three boundary conditions (clamped-clamped [CC], clamped-pinned [CP] and pinned-pinned [PP]). Firstly, the buckling loads of eight-ply E/glass-epoxy rectangular plates were determined experimentally. Then, the buckling loads of the laminated composites were calculated by ANSYS finite-element computer code. The changing in buckling load of the composites due to the presence of cutout and changing of length/thickness ratio was calculated. Finally, the experimental test results were compared to the buckling loads of plates obtained from the finite element analysis.