FINITE-ELEMENTS FOR POSTBUCKLING ANALYSIS .2. APPLICATION TO COMPOSITE PLATE ASSEMBLIES

In a companion paper the authors presented a convenient formulation for the stability analysis of structures using the finite element method. The main assumptions are linear elasticity, a linear fundamental path and the existence of distinct critical loads. The formulation developed is known as the W-formulation, where the energy is written in terms of a sliding set of incremental coordinates measured with respect to the fundamental path. In the present paper a number of applications of finite elements for post-buckling analysis on composite plate assemblies are presented. Thin-walled composite plates, I-beams, angle sections, and a specially designed box-beam with flanges (unicolumn) are studied in post-buckling when axially loaded. The results are in good agreement with previous studies. Moreover, a parametric study involving critical buckling load and geometry is presented for the case of the unicolumn.