Thermal buckling analysis of laminated plates with variable angle fiber orientation

Abstract

The thermal buckling response of square plates with variable angle tows under simply supported conditions is modeled numerically. The path of variable angle tow is modeled as a function of lateral location. The classical lamination theory utilizes fiber paths to calculate thermal loads and stiffness matrices. Using Kirchhoff plate theory and finite element theory, the global material stiffness matrix and the global geometric stiffness matrix of the plate under thermal buckling loads are obtained. By using these matrices, eigenvalues or critical buckling temperature is obtained and the buckling response of the plate is examined. The theoretical results are validated by studies in the literature and finite element models. It has been seen even in an unoptimized span of a sample composite material, variable angle tows (VATs) were 8,60% more resistant to thermal buckling than common composite lay-ups.