Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313

www.elsevier.com/locate/compstruct

Modal coupled instabilities of thin-walled

composite plate and shell structures
Z. Kolakowski *, M. Krolak
Department of Strength of Materials and Structures (K12), Technical University of Lodz, PL-90-924 Lodz, ul. Stefanowskiego 1/15, Poland

Available online 8 May 2006

Abstract

The problem of buckling and initial post-buckling equilibrium paths of thin-walled structures built of plate and/or shell elements
subjected to compression and bending has been solved. Plate and shell elements can be made of multi-layer orthotropic materials. A
method of the modal solution to the coupled buckling problem within the first-order approximation of KoiterÕs asymptotic theory,
using the transition matrix method, has been presented. In the solution obtained, the effect of cross-sectional distortions and a shear
lag phenomenon is included. The calculations are carried out for a few thin-walled structures.
 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Composite structures; Membrane–flexural coupling; Buckling; Coupled instabilities

1. Introduction the same in all directions. Composites are strong and

Since their appearance in the 1960s, modern compos-
ite materials have augured the new, bright and, at the
same time, light and reliable future. Scientists have
started to design composite materials whose mechanical
properties can be determined in advance. Composites
have been lately commonly used in aircraft industry,
army, automotive industry and marine structures, as
well as in medicine and sport.
A limited application of these materials in our every-
day life results mainly from their complexity. They are
made of carbon or glass fibres, embedded in a polymer,
ceramic or metallic warp. Their complexity brings into
question their design, mass production and application
by traditionally educated engineers. Composite materials
carry mainly stresses along the direction of the fibre align-
ment. Consequently, they require more attention while
designing than metals whose strength is most frequently
more fail-safe in their nature than other materials. For
instance, homogeneous materials such as metals crack
easily, whereas in non-homogeneous composites such
cracks have simply no chances to enlarge. Composites
can alter their properties considerably, but despite this
fact they can guarantee safety. Still, an unpredicted load
variation may be sometimes followed by disaster.
Nevertheless, during the last fifteen years composites
have been widely used as structural elements of aero-
planes, helicopters and space shuttles. Thorough re-
search aimed at obtaining the best materials at the
lowest production costs has been conducted all that
time. As a result of these investigations, numerous new
composite materials, characterised by properties that of-
fer new possibilities to designers, have appeared.
The increasing popularity of fibrous composites as
structural materials can be attributed to the following
reasons:

• high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios;

*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +48 42 631 2223; fax: +48 42 631 2217. • high resistance of some fibrous composites to aggres-
E-mail address: kola@orion.p.lodz.pl (Z. Kolakowski). sive chemical compounds and to corrosion;

0263-8223/$ - see front matter  2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2005.02.022
304 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313
• broad spectrum of thermal properties, varying
according to the sort of a matrix and fibres used
(thermal insulating power, thermal conductivity, high
mechanical strength at elevated, high or very low
temperatures).
Other positive factors promoting the use of fibrous
composites in the construction of load carrying elements
include good wear (e.g. friction) resistance, fatigue life
(under time-variable loads), sound insulation properties
or electromagnetic transparency.
Composite materials have a great advantage, which
consists in the fact that their material properties can
be easily modelled in selected directions and regions. It
concerns especially orthotropic composite beams, plates
and shells.
In order to apply composites, however, a comprehen-
sive and thorough analysis of the structure behaviour is re-
quired. In engineering practice a development of new
methods of the analysis that account for special properties
of composite materials is needed. To fulfil these require-
ments, models based on analytical and numerical methods
that describe a complex structure of composites are built.
The problem is more complicated as composite elements
are subjected to complex loading in modern structures.
With progress in the technology of composite materi-
als, composite plates made of solid laminates, sandwich
laminates, and laminates reinforced with stiffeners are
widely used in cars, wagons, ships, aeroplanes, aero-
space and marine structures. The analysis of buckling
of composite plates is crucial to the safe design of these
structures. Composite plates are inherently anisotropic
and non-homogeneous, and their buckling deformations
are more complicated.
A more comprehensive review of the literature can be
found in [2–4,6,8,13–16,18,22–25].
Mathematical models tend to higher precision and
closer approximation of real structures, which enables
one to analyse more and more exactly the phenomena
occurring during and after the loss of stability.
As a result of the present investigations, an analytical-
numerical model that makes it possible to account for
many properties of real structures, such as different char-
acteristics of orthotropic materials, beam-columns with
open and closed sections, longitudinal stiffeners, a band
thickness variation, edge reinforcement, various boundary
conditions, a wall interaction, a shear lag phenomenon, an
effect of the interaction of buckling modes and also an ef-
fect of cross-sectional distortions, has been developed.
Thin-walled composite structures in the elastic range,
being under axial compression or/and a bending mo-
ment, are examined on the basis of Byskov and Hutch-
insonÕs method. The study is based on the numerical
method of the transition matrix using GodunovÕs
orthogonalization. Instead of the finite strip method,
the exact transition matrix method is used in this case.
The most important advantage of this method is that
it enables us to describe a complete range of behaviour
of thin-walled structures from all global (flexural, flex-
ural–torsional, lateral, distortional buckling and their
combinations) to the local stability [9].
The consideration of displacements and load compo-
nents in the middle surface of walls within the first-order
approximation, as well as precise geometrical relation-
ships have enabled the analysis of all possible buckling
modes, including a mixed buckling mode [8–11,13]. See
also [12,21].
2. Formulation of the problem
Let us consider thin-walled girders built of plate and
shell elements (in the form of cylindrical shell segments)
with closed or open cross-sections. Both the plate and
shell elements under consideration can be multi-layer
walls made of orthotropic materials. The classical lami-
nated panel theory [6] is used in the theoretical analysis,
the effects of shear deformation through the thickness of
the laminate are neglected and the results given are those
for thin laminated panels. The materials they are made
of are subjected to HookeÕs law.
Long prismatic thin-walled structures built of panels
connected on longitudinal edges have been considered.
In order to account for all modes of global, local and
coupled buckling, a plate model of thin-walled struc-
tures has been assumed.
For each panel component, precise geometrical rela-
tionships are assumed in order to enable the consider-
ation of both out-of-plane and in-plane bending of the
plate:
e1 ¼ u1;1 þ 0:5um;1 um;1
e2 ¼ u2;2 þ 0:5um;2 um;2  ku3
e3 ¼ u1;2 þ u2;1 þ um;1 um;2
ð1Þ
e4 ¼ hu3;11
e5 ¼ hu3;22
e6 ¼ 2hu3;12
where h is the thickness of the plate, k = 1/R is the cur-
vature of the cylindrical shell segment; u1  u, u2  v,
u3  w—the components of the displacement vector in
the x1  x, x2  y, x3  z axis direction, respectively,
and 1 = x, 2 = y, 3 = 2xy = cxy, 4 = hjx, 5 = hjy,
6 = hjxy. The summation with respect to the factor m
is from 1 to 3 (m = 1, 2, 3).
In the majority of publications devoted to stability of
structures, the terms ðu21;1 þ u22;1 Þ; ðu21;2 þ u22;2 Þ, (u1,1u1,2 +
u2,1u2,2) are neglected for e1, e2, e3, respectively, in the strain
tensor components (1).
Other shells have more complicated strain-displace-
ment relations [5] and they have been disregarded here.
 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313 305

Using the classical plate theory [6], the constitutive impossible to pull on a laminate that has Bij terms with-
equation for the laminate is taken as follows: out bending and/or twisting the laminate at the same
  time. That is, an extensional force results in not only
½A ½B
fN g ¼ feg ¼ ½Kfeg ð2Þ extensional deformations, but also twisting and/or bend-
½B ½D
ing of the laminate [4,6]. Moreover, such a laminate
where cannot be subjected to moment without suffering simul-
1X N
 Þ ðzk  zk1 Þ taneously from extension of the middle surface.
Aij ¼ ðQ ð3Þ
h k¼1 ij k The form of constitutive Eq. (2) assumed here is very
general, allowing for anisotropic laminate properties
1 X N with regard to both in-plane and out-of-plane behav-
Bij ¼  ij Þ ðz2  z2 Þ
ðQ ð4Þ iours, and for full coupling between in-plane and out-
k k k1
2h2 k¼1
of-plane behaviours, as well as for through-thickness
shearing actions.
1 XN
 ij Þ ðz3  z3 Þ The complexity of Eq. (2) is reduced somewhat for
Dij ¼ 3
ðQ k k k1 ð5Þ
3h k¼1 laminated plates of particular specialised configurations.
  For example, suppose that the reference surface is se-
½A ½B lected at the middle surface of the plate and the laminate
½K ¼
½B ½D is symmetrical with respect to this surface.
2 3 For laminates that are symmetric in both geometry
A11 A12 A16 B11 B12 B16
6A and material properties about the middle surface, the
6 21 A22 A26 B21 B22 B26 7
7
6 7 general stiffness equations, Eq. (6), simplify consider-
6 A61 A62 A66 B61 B62 B66 7 ably. In particular, the coupling stiffness, that is Bij,
¼6
6B
7
6 11 B12 B16 D11 D12 D16 7
7 can be shown to be zero. The elimination of coupling be-
6 7 tween bending and tension has important practical ram-
4 B21 B22 B26 D21 D22 D26 5
ð6Þ ifications. Such laminates are usually much easier to
B61 B62 B66 D61 D62 D66
2 3 analyse than laminates with coupling and they do not
K 11 K 12 K 13 K 14 K 15 K 16 have a tendency to twist from the inevitable thermally
6K K 23 K 24 K 25 K 26 7
6 21 K 22 7 induced contractions that occur during cooling that fol-
6 7 lows the curing process [6].
6 K 31 K 32 K 33 K 34 K 35 K 36 7
¼6
6K
7 As another example of a specialised configuration, let
6 41 K 42 K 43 K 44 K 45 K 46 7
7
6 7 us consider a regular symmetric cross-ply laminate that is
4 K 51 K 52 K 53 K 54 K 55 K 56 5 symmetrical with respect to the middle surface and the
K 61 K 62 K 63 K 64 K 65 K 66 laminae are all of the same thickness and material prop-
 ij is
in which Aij = Aji, Bij = Bji, Dij = Dji, Kij = Kji and Q erties, for example [0/90/90/0]T. For this laminate, the
the transformed reduced stiffness matrix [4,6]. stiffness Bij = A16 = A26 = D16 = D26 = 0. This laminate
In the above equations, N1, N2, N3 are the dimension- is called a quasi-orthotropic material.
less sectional forces; N4, N5, N6—the dimensionless sec- Regular symmetric angle-ply laminates have orthotro-
tional moments: pic laminae of equal thickness. The stiffness Bij is zero
Nx Ny N xy because of symmetry. The adjacent layers have opposite
N1 ¼ ; N2 ¼ N3 ¼ ; signs of the angle of orientation of the principal material
E0 h E0 h E0 h
ð7Þ properties with respect to the laminate axes, for exam-
Mx My M xy
N4 ¼ ; N 5 ¼ N 6 ¼ ple, [+h/h/h/+h]T. Thus, for symmetry, there must
E 0 h2 E 0 h2 E 0 h2 be an odd number of layers. For many layered symmet-
where E0 is the elastic modulus of reference. ric angle-ply laminates, the values of A16, A26, D16 and
The reverse relation with respect to (2) can be written D26 can be quite small when compared to other Aij
as and Dij, respectively. Only in the situation where the
1 
feg ¼ ½K fN g ¼ ½KfN g ð8Þ stiffness A16, A26, D16 and D26 is exactly zero, it can be
ignored without analysis [6].
In the constitutive matrix of Eq. (2), the submatrix [A], In many physical applications of laminated compos-
detailed in Eq. (3) and related to the in-plane response of ites, antisymmetric laminates are needed to fulfil design
the laminate, is called extensional stiffness. The subma- requirements. If the shear stiffness of a laminate made of
trix [D], described by Eq. (5), is associated with the out- laminae with unidirectional fibres must be increased,
of-plane bending response of the laminate and is called one way to satisfy this requirement is to position layers
bending stiffness, whereas the submatrix [B], illustrated at some angle with respect to the laminate axes. An even
by Eq. (4), is a measure of an interaction (coupling) be- number of such layers may be necessary at orientations
tween the membrane and the bending action. Thus, it is that alternate from layer to layer, e.g. [+h/h/+h/h]T.
306 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313
Z
A regular antisymmetric cross-ply laminate consists of  ij N j ÞdN i dS ¼ 0
½ei  K
an even number of orthotropic laminae laid on one an- S
other with principal material directions alternating at 0 where : i; j ¼ 1; 2; . . . ; 6 and no summation to
and 90 to the laminate axes and has all laminae of the
‘i’ occurs ð12Þ
same thickness. These laminates do not have A16, A26,
D16, D26, B12, B16, B26 and B66, but have coupling be- for x1 = const
tween bending and extension. The coupling is such that Z b
B11 = B22 5 0. ½N 1 þ N 1 u1;1 þ N 3 u1;2  hp0 ðx2 Þdu1 dx2 jx1 ¼ 0
A regular antisymmetric angle-ply laminate has all 0
Z b
laminae of the same thickness oriented at +h degrees
to the laminate coordinate axes on one side of the mid- ½N 3 þ N 1 u2;1 þ N 3 u2;2 du2 dx2 jx1 ¼ 0
0
dle surface and corresponding, equally thick laminae Z b
oriented at h degrees on the other side. In this laminate N 4 du3;1 dx2 jx1 ¼ 0
A16 = A26 = B11 = B12 = B22 = B66 = D16 = D26 = 0 but 0
B16 5 0 and B26 5 0. Z b
The equations of stability of thin-walled structures ðhN 4;1 þ 2hN 6;2 þ N 1 u3;1 þ N 3 u3;2 Þdu3 dx2 jx1 ¼ 0
0
have been derived using a variational method [4,8,9].
The total potential energy variation of a multi-layer ð13Þ
sector of the panel P can be written as for x2 = const
Z
Z ‘
dP ¼ dU  dW ¼ ðrx dex þ ry dey þ sxy dcxy Þ dX
X ½N 2 þ N 2 u2;2 þ N 3 u2;1 du2 dx1 jx2 ¼ 0
Z b  0
0 x¼‘ Z
 hp ðyÞdu dyjx¼0 ð9Þ ‘
0 ½N 3 þ N 2 u1;2 þ N 3 u1;1 du1 dx1 jx2 ¼ 0
0
where U—internal elastic strain energy, W—work of Z ‘
external forces, p0(y)  p0(x2)—pre-buckling external
N 5 du3;2 dx1 jx2 ¼ 0
load in the panel middle surface. The expression 0
X = ‘ · b · h = S · h has been employed in the above Z ‘
relation. ðhN 5;2 þ 2hN 6;1 þ N 2 u3;2 þ N 3 u3;1 Þdu3 dx1 jx2 ¼ 0
0
The above equation says that in the equilibrium state
the potential energy P of the panel has a non-varying ð14Þ
value in the class of admissible displacement variations. for the plate corner, that is to say, for x1 = const and
Hence, the equation has to be satisfied for all admissible x2 = const
virtual displacements that comply with the constraints
imposed. N 6 jx1 jx2 du3 ¼ 0 ð15Þ
In order to determine the variation of the potential Relation (11) is a system of equilibrium equations.
energy of a single multi-layer panel, the following Systems (12) are the already employed relations between
identity strains and external forces, whereas relations (13)–(15)
X dY ¼ dðXY Þ  Y dX ð10Þ correspond to the boundary conditions at the edge
x1 = const, x2 = const, respectively, and in the plate
has been employed. corner.
After grouping the components at respective varia- In the case of a plate, the last term kN2 should be ne-
tions, the following system of equations has been glected in Eq. (11) because k = 1/R = 0.
obtained: An introduction of the full functional into the solu-
Z tion allows for satisfying the subsequent and consistent
f½N 1 ð1 þ u1;1 Þ þ N 3 u1;2 ;1 systems of simplified mathematical models correspond-
S
ing to the characteristic types of composite panels.
þ ½N 2 u1;2 þ N 3 ð1 þ u1;1 Þ;2 gdu1 dS ¼ 0
Z
f½N 1 u2;1 þ N 3 ð1 þ u2;2 Þ;1
S 3. Solution to the problem
þ ½N 2 ð1 þ u2;2 Þ þ N 3 u2;1 ;2 gdu2 dS ¼ 0
Z
The problem has been solved by the variational meth-
½ðhN 4;1 þ N 1 u3;1 þ N 3 u3;2 Þ;1 od using KoiterÕs asymptotic theory of conservative sys-
S
þ ðhN 5;2 þ 2hN 6;1 þ N 2 u3;2 þ N 3 u3;1 Þ;2 þ kN 2 du3 dS ¼ 0 tems [7]. In the solution of the problem and in the
computer program developed, the following have been
ð11Þ employed: Byskov–HutchinsonÕs asymptotic expansion
 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313 307

[1], the numerical transition matrix method using Godu- The corresponding displacements are treated as infin-
ð0Þ ð0Þ
novÕs orthogonalization method [8–11]. itesimally small, so that for any uj ; L11n ðuj ; vj Þ ¼ 0 for
The girders under consideration can be loaded with all i and j, any vj, and L11 is a bilinear operator, follow-
axial compression and bending in the cross-section sym- ing the notation of [1].
metry plane, that is to say, with the so-called flat bending. Numerical aspects of the problem being solved for
The aim of this study is to generate the stability equations the first-order fields (like in papers by Kolakowski and
and to solve the stability problem (to find the values of coworkers [8,10,11]) have resulted in an introduction
the critical load of local and global buckling), as well as of the following new orthogonal functions for kth com-
to determine the initial equilibrium paths in the elastic posite panel in the sense of the boundary conditions for
post-buckling for the structures described above. two longitudinal edges (14):
As has been mentioned above, after expanding the ðnÞ ðnÞ ðoÞ ðnÞ
fields of displacements U  and the fields of sectional ak ¼ N 2k ð1 þ kDk K 21k =K 22k Þ þ kN 3k dk;n =bk

forces N into power series with respect to the buckling bðnÞ ¼ N ðnÞ ð1  kDk Þ þ kN ð0ÞlðnÞ =bk
k 3k 3k k;n
mode amplitudes fn (the amplitude of the nth buckling ðnÞ ðnÞ
mode divided by the thickness h1 of the wall assumed ck ¼ u1k
to be the first one), KoiterÕs asymptotic theory has been ðnÞ ðnÞ
dk ¼ u21k
employed: ðnÞ ðnÞ
ð18Þ
ek ¼ u3k
U  ð0Þ þ fn U
 ¼ kU  ðnÞ þ    ðnÞ ðnÞ ðnÞ
k k
ð16Þ f k ¼ u3k;g =bk ¼ ek;g =bk
N  ð0Þ þ fn N
 ¼ kN  ðnÞ þ    ðnÞ ðnÞ
k k
gk ¼ N 5k
where U  ð0Þ ; N
 ð0Þ are the pre-buckling state fields, and
k k hðnÞ ¼ hk gðnÞ =bk þ 2hk N ðnÞ =bk þ kN ðo ÞeðnÞ =bk
 ðnÞ ; N
U  ðnÞ —the nth buckling mode fields for the compos- k k;g 6k;n 3k k;n
k k
ite kth panel. The range of indices is [1, N], where N is where nk = x1k/bk and gk = x2k/bk.
the number of interacting modes. In the case of arbitrary composite structures, the
After substitution of expansions (16) into equilibrium solution to the problem within the first-order approxi-
Eq. (11), continuity conditions (14), boundary condi- mation can be sought in the form of trigonometric series
tions (13) (corresponding to the free support at the seg- in the light of inconsistency of these functions in the
ment ends) and relations (12), the boundary problem of equilibrium equations along the longitudinal direction
the zero and first-order for the case of uniform compres- or in an approximate way.
sion along the generating lines of the panel has been In the majority of studies, only conditions of orthog-
obtained. onality (11) of the assumed class of functions of the
The panels with the linearly varying pre-buckling problem solution with respect to displacements u = u1,
state along their widths are divided into several strips v = u2, w = u3 are fulfilled. In the solution method pre-
under uniformly distributed compressive (tensile) stres- sented here, additional orthogonality conditions (i.e.
ses. Instead of the finite strip method, the exact transi- (12) and (14)) are satisfied.
tion matrix method is used in this case [10,11]. A separation of variables in the linear boundary
The pre-buckling solution of the kth composite panel problem has been solved by means of KantorowichÕs
consisting of homogeneous fields is assumed as method. The first-order solutions may be formulated
ð0Þ as follows:
u1k ¼ ð‘=2  x1k ÞDk
ðnÞ ðnÞ mpbk n ðnÞ
 ðnÞ ðgk Þ cos mpbk n
ð0Þ
u2k ¼ x2k Dk K 12k =K 22k ð17Þ  ðgk Þ sin
ak ¼ A k ; bk ¼ B k
‘ ‘
ð0Þ
u3k ¼ 0 ðnÞ ðnÞ mpb k n ðnÞ ðnÞ mpb kn
ck ¼ C ðgk Þ cos
k ; dk ¼ D  ðgk Þ sin
k
‘ ‘
where Dk is the actual loading. This loading is specified
as the product of a unit loading system and a scalar load
ðnÞ
ek ¼ E ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpbk n ; fkðnÞ ¼ F ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpbk n
k k
‘ ‘
factor Dk.
ðnÞ  ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpb k n ðnÞ
 ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpb kn
As can be easily seen, thus assumed field of displace- gk ¼ G k ; hk ¼ H k
ments and the field of inner forces, corresponding to it ‘ ‘
for the pre-buckling state (see Appendix B), fulfils equi- ð19Þ
librium Eq. (11) for the zero state as an identity.  ðnÞ ;
A  ðnÞ ;
B  ðnÞ ;
C  ðnÞ ;
D  ðnÞ ;
E
ðnÞ
F k ;
(with the mth  ðnÞ ;
G  ðnÞ
H
k k k k k k k
The zero approximation describes the pre-buckling harmonic) are initially unknown functions that will be
state, whereas the first-order approximation, being the determined by the numerical method of transition matri-
linear problem of stability, allows for determination of ces. The solution assumed in this way (19) allows one to
values of critical loads, buckling modes, and initial determine dimensionless sectional forces for the first-
post-buckling equilibrium paths. order approximation in the form:
308 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313

ðnÞ ðnÞ
 ðgk Þ sin mpbk n ðnÞ  ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpbk n Expressions for a0, ar, ajkr are calculated by known
N 1k ¼ N 1k ; N 2k ¼ N 21k
‘ ‘ formulae [1]. The formulae for the post-buckling coeffi-
cients ajkr depend only on the buckling modes.
ðnÞ
N 3k  ðnÞ ðgk Þ cos mpbk n ; N 4k
¼N
ðnÞ  ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpbk n
¼N The consideration of only linear initial imperfections
3k 41k
‘ ‘
(determined by the shape of N coupled buckling modes)
ðnÞ
N 5k  ðnÞ ðgk Þ sin mpbk n ; N 6k
¼N
ðnÞ  ðnÞ ðgk Þ cos mpbk n
¼N and components of displacement and force fields for the
5k 6k
‘ ‘ first-order allows us, to some extent, to account for
ð20Þ residual stresses. However, the residual stresses are not
The presented way of solution allows for carrying out assumed in advance and this approach can only be trea-
a modal analysis of buckling of complex composite thin- ted as an attempt to consider their most unfavourable
walled structures. distribution. For a rather extensive discussion, see pa-
The obtained system of homogeneous ordinary differ- pers by Pignataro and Luongo [19,20].
ential equations, with the corresponding conditions of
the co-operation of walls, has been solved by the transi-
tion matrix method, having integrated numerically the 4. Analysis of the calculation results
equilibrium equations along the circumferential direc-
tion in order to obtain the relationships between the The developed calculation program has been tested in
state vectors on two longitudinal edges. During the inte- many aspects, among others in order to determine the
gration of the equations, GodunovÕs orthogonalization range of applicability of the cylindrical shell theory as-
method is employed. The column global buckling occurs sumed in the considerations.
at one sinusoid half-wave on the column length, whereas A comparison of the results obtained by means of the
the local buckling takes place at the number of half- method discussed above and by the finite element meth-
waves m > 1 with bk  ‘ [8–11]. od—ANSYS 5.4 package—is presented below. A multi-
In systems of Eqs. (11), (12) and (14) for the first- layer channel with the following geometrical dimensions
order approximation, there are two components of the (Fig. 1):
pre-critical loading N  ð0Þ and N  ð0Þ (as can be easily seen b1 ¼ 25 ½mm; b2 ¼ 50 ½mm; ‘ ¼ 300 ½mm;
1k 3k
ð0Þ
in (18)). The component N  has an insignificant effect
3k
 ð0Þ . h ¼ 1 ½mm
on the value of critical load in comparison with N 1k
The developed computer program allows for a divi- has been considered.
sion of each plate or/and shell element into several or Each wall is made of four layers of two hypothetical
even more than 50 strips made of different materials materials characterised by the following parameters:
and with various wall thickness. The presented solution
method enables a multi-modal analysis of buckling. • h1 = 0.2 [mm], h = 0 [mm], E1 = 20 [GPa], E2 = 10
Taking into account the components of membrane [GPa], G = 5 [GPa], m12 = 0.3;
forces and displacements within the first-order approxi- • h1 = 0.3 [mm], h = 35 [mm], E1 = 10 [GPa], E2 = 30
mation allows one to consider a shear–lag phenomenon [GPa], G = 10 [GPa], m12 = 0.3;
and distortions of cross-sections. • h1 = 0.3 [mm], h = 52 [mm], E1 = 10 [GPa], E2 = 30
At the point where the load parameter k reaches its [GPa], G = 10 [GPa], m12 = 0.3;
maximum value ks (secondary bifurcation or limit • h1 = 0.2 [mm], h = 12 [mm], E1 = 20 [GPa], E2 = 10
points) for the imperfect structure with regard to the [GPa], G = 5 [GPa], m12 = 0.3
imperfection of the buckling mode with the amplitude
fr , the Jacobian of the non-linear system of equations where E1m21 = E2m12 and h = h1 + h2 + h3 + h4.
[1]:
 
k k
ar 1  fr þ ajkr fj fk þ    ¼ ar fr at r ¼ 1; 2; . . . ; N
kr kr
b2
ð21Þ
is equal to zero.
h
The corresponding expression for the total elastic po-
tential energy of the structures has the following form: b1
P ¼ ao k2 =2 þ ar ð1  k=kr Þf2r =2 þ ajkr fj fk fr =3
 ar fr fr k=kr þ    ð22Þ
h
where k—load parameter, kr—critical value of k,
Po = aok2/2—energy of the pre–buckling state. Fig. 1. Cross-section of the column.
 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313 309

Table 1 (17). For a multi-layer symmetric laminate, the coeffi-

Comparison of buckling loads for channels
Pcr [kN]
Presented method ANSYS 5.4
(1) (2)
1.589 (4) 1.547
1.649 (5) 1.591
1.706 (3) 1.681
1.802 (6) 1.743
2.022 (7) 1.929
Completely arbitrary arrangements of layers have
been assumed, as in this case the stiffness matrix K
(Eq. (6)) is filled up as a whole, i.e. Kij 5 0 for i,
j = 1, 2, . . . , 6.
Table 1 shows a comparison of the results for the first
five lowest values of critical loads (eigenvalues) of the
channel under compression. For the present modal
method, a number of half-waves that generate along
the length of the channel is given in brackets. The buck-
ling modes (eigenmodes) obtained by both the methods
are identical in practice.
Next, the present method has been compared with the
results obtained by other authors. An example has been
taken from Shen and Williams [22] for an unstiffened
six-layer graphite/epoxy laminated square box column
with the length ‘ = 305 [mm] and the width b =
25.4 [mm]. The layer material properties were: E1 =
139.3 [GPa], E2 = 11.1 [GPa], G = 6.0 [GPa], m12 = 0.3
and the thickness hply = 0.134 [mm]. The buckling loads
calculated by the present method are listed in Table 2
and compared with the numerical results given by Shen
and Williams [22] and with the experimental and numer-
ical results given by Wang et al. [25].
The present method has been also compared with the
results obtained by Loughlan [15] for multi-layer sym-
metric and antisymmetric plates under compression. A
very good agreement between the results has been ob-
tained as well.
Further calculations have been limited to thin-walled
multi-layer symmetric and antisymmetric structures. In
the case of an antisymmetric laminate, the zero state
component N  ð0Þ ¼ 0 and the determined values of the
3k
critical load are precise within the asymptotic method
applied and the pre-critical distribution field assumed
cients K13 = A16  0, K32 = A26  0, thus, as has been al-
ready mentioned, it follows that N  ð0Þ  0.
3k
j(1)–(2)j/(2) The value of the coefficient a0 in Eq. (22) depends
(3) only on N ð0Þ , as N 1ð0Þ  e1ð0Þ 6¼ 0 and N 2ð0Þ  e2ð0Þ þ N 3ð0Þ  e3ð0Þ þ
1k
ð0Þ ð0Þ ð0Þ ð0Þ ð0Þ ð0Þ
2.7% N 4  e4 þ N 5  e5 þ N 6  e6 ¼ 0, following the nota-
3.6%
1.5% tion of [1]. The values of ar (Eqs. (21) and (22)) do not
ð0Þ
3.4% depend on N i for i = 2, 3, . . . , 6, either.
4.8% Below, the results of calculations for thin-walled
beam-columns with the cross-sections under compres-
sion and bending are presented in Fig. 2.
An influence of the curvature radius R of the flange
(or of the cylindrical shell segment rise) on the global
and local critical load Ncr [N/m] of the column with
the length ‘ = 2000 mm, made of a three-layer composite
of the following structure of the layers:
• h1 = 0.2 mm, E1 = 200 GPa, m12 = 0.3, E2 = E1, G =
E1/(2(1+m12)) steel;
• h2 = 0.6 mm, E = 139.3 GPa, m12 = 0.3, E2 = 11.1
GPa, G = 6 GPa composite [22,23];
• h3 = 0.2 mm, E1 = 200 GPa, m12 = 0.3, E2 = E1, G =
E1/(2(1+m12)) steel;
(where h = h1 + h2 + h3) has been analysed. Structures
made of a composite with such an arrangement are
referred to as metal-composite-metal structures.
The curves in Fig. 3 denote, respectively: 1—global
flexural-torsional buckling, 2—local antisymmetric
buckling, 3—global flexural buckling, 4—local symmet-
ric buckling.
The negative dimensionless curvature b1/R < 0
(b1 = 100 mm) corresponds to the flange deflected to-
wards the inside of the column contour, whereas b1/
R > 0—to the flange deflected towards the outside of
the column contour.
The value of the critical load corresponding to the
global flexural-torsional buckling decreases with an in-
crease in the curvature b1/R by nearly 1.5 times. The
value of the global flexural critical load undergoes slight
changes. A similar situation occurs for the local anti-
symmetric buckling. The shell element exerts the stron-
gest influence on the local symmetric buckling. Even a
slight flange curvature results in a rapid increase in the
critical load.

Table 2
Comparisons of buckling loads of graphite/epoxy laminated square box columns
Pcr [kN]
Lay-up Presented method Shen and Williams (1993a) Wang et al. [25] calculated Wang et al. [25] experiments
(±15/0)S 9.09 8.93 8.59 8.17
(±15/0)2T 8.71 8.48 7.74 8.01
(±152/02)T 7.10 8.17 6.87 7.46
(±45/(±15)2)T 11.02 9.72 10.91 8.81
310 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313

theoretical load-carrying capacity, determined within

the first-order non-linear approximation, to the mini-

b1/R<0
mum critical load value, that is to say, Ns/Nm, where
Nm = min (Ng, Nl), are presented. In each case the sign
of the imperfection has been chosen in the most unfa-
vourable way, i.e. so that Ns would have its minimum
1
b1/R>0
value (for more a detailed analysis, see [8,10,13]).
In Table 3 the ratios of the global critical load to the
local one, for the same conditions along the symmetry

100
axis of the cross-section, i.e. the ratios of the critical
loads: global flexural-torsional (antisymmetric) to local
antisymmetric; global flexural (symmetric) to local sym-
1

metric, are included as well.

12. 5
100
The interaction of the global flexural buckling mode
with the local symmetric one has turned out to be the
Fig. 2. Cross-section of the column with the length ‘ = 2000 mm. most dangerous for 0.5 6 b1/R 6 0.25.
The further analysis has been limited to thin-walled
structures made of an eight-layer composite of a sym-
Ncr [N/m] metric and antisymmetric structure.
0.8
Each layer is made of the same material characterised
0.7
by the following data [26]:
0.6
1
0.5 2 E1 ¼ 129:1 ½GPa; E2 ¼ 9:43 ½GPa; G ¼ 5:39 ½GPa;
3
0.4
4
m12 ¼ 0:288; hply ¼ 0:125 ½mm
0.3
0.2 Individual layers were turned by a directed angle H
0.1 with respect to the assumed local system of co-ordinate
0
axes, which overlapped the contour of each plate-panel
-0.5 -0.3 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 ([6,14–16], Wang et al., 1994).
b 1/R Again, the previously discussed channel of the follow-
Fig. 3. Critical load Ncr versus b1/R. The curves denote, respectively:
ing geometrical dimensions (Fig. 1):
1—global flexural-torsional buckling, 2—local antisymmetric buck- b1 ¼ 25 ½mm; b2 ¼ 50 ½mm; h ¼ 1 ½mm; ‘ ¼ 650 ½mm;
ling, 3—global flexural buckling, 4—local symmetric buckling.
made of a composite with a symmetric arrangement of
The lowest value of the critical load of the beam-col- layers [H/H/H/H/H/H/H/H]T and an antisym-
umn under analysis occurs for: local symmetric buckling metric arrangement of layers [H/H/H/H/H/H/H/
mode for 0.5 6 b1/R 6 0.25; local antisymmetric buck- H]T, has been analysed.
ling mode for b1/R = 0.5. In Fig. 4 a variability of critical loads for three vari-
The further analysis has concerned the interactive ous buckling modes, i.e.: global flexural, global flexural-
buckling and has been aimed at determination of the torsional and the lowest local, denoted by the indices f,
sensitivity of the columns under discussion to global ft and l, respectively, as a function of the angle H for
and local geometrical imperfections. It has been as- both the ways of arrangement of channel layers, is
sumed that the beam-column has the following initial presented.
deflections As can be easily seen, the values of global loads are
jfg j ¼ 1:0, jfl j ¼ 0:2, where the index denotes: g—glo- the same practically for the case A and S for the same
bal buckling mode, l—local one. In Table 3 the theoret- angle H. Maximum values of global critical loads occur
ical load-carrying capacity Ns [N/m], the ratios of the for the angle 0 6 H 6 15 [deg], whereas maximum

Table 3
Load carrying capacity within the first-order approximation and the imperfections jfg j ¼ 1:0; jfl j ¼ 0:2
b1/R Antisymmetric modes Symmetric modes
Ns [N/m] Ns/Nm Ng/Nl Ns [N/m] Ns/Nm Ng/Nl
0.5 0.139 0.784 1.949 0.138 0.858 4.077
0.0 0.115 0.766 1.626 0.0621 0.797 9.085
0.5 0.115 0.762 1.344 0.133 0.858 4.423
 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313 311

Ncr /h [N/mm2] Ncr/h [N/mm2]

140
160

120
100
1A
2A
80
3A
1S
60
2S
3S
40
20
0 Θ [deg]
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Fig. 4. Influence of ply-angle H on critical compressive loads for
‘ = 650 mm. The curves: 1—flexural buckling, 2—local buckling, 3—
flexural-torsional buckling. The notes: A—antisymmetric angle-ply
laminates H/H/H/H/H/H/H/H; S—symmetric angle-ply lami-
nates H/H/H/H/H/H/H/H.
values of local critical loads for H  45 [deg]. Maximum
differences between the values of critical local loads for
both the types of layer arrangement occur also for
H = 45 [deg] and are equal to approx. 8%.
Then sensitivity to imperfections of these arrange-
ments of layers for H = 45 [deg] has been analysed, i.e.
theoretical values of load carrying capacity have been
determined within the first-order approximation for
the assumed initial imperfections jff j ¼ 1:0; jfft j ¼
1:0; jfl j ¼ 0:2 for a smaller length of the channel
‘ = 390 mm. A decrease in the length of the analysed
channel has of course caused an increase in the values
of global loads (flexural and flexural-torsional buckling
mode), whereas the values of local critical loads are
practically the same. The obtained results are presented
in Table 4. As can be seen, sensitivity for both the ways
of layer arrangement is the same in practice.
Next, another way of a symmetric arrangement of
layers [H/H/0/0/0/0/H/H]T—denoted as SS—has
been analysed. In Fig. 5 a change in critical loads as a
function of the angle H for a channel with the length
‘ = 650 mm is shown. For comparison, the results for
the above mentioned symmetric arrangement of layers,
i.e. [H/H/H/H/H/H/H/H]T—denoted as S—have
been presented as well. The curves have been denoted,
respectively: 1—flexural buckling mode, 2—the lowest
140
120
1S
100
2S
3S
80
1SS
60 2SS
3SS
40
20
0 Θ [deg]
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Fig. 5. Influence of ply-angle H on critical compressive loads for
‘ = 650 mm. The curves: 1—flexural buckling, 2—local buckling, 3—
flexural-torsional buckling. The notes: S—symmetric angle-ply lami-
nates H/H/H/H/H/H/H/H; SS—symmetric angle-ply laminates
H/H/0/0/0/0/H/H.
local buckling mode, 3—flexural-torsional buckling
mode.
As one can see, a change in the way of layer arrange-
ment from S to SS, according to the notations assumed
in Fig. 5, can have a significant influence on the values of
global loads. For the channel under consideration and
the angle H = 45 [deg], an increase in the values of crit-
ical load of the flexural buckling mode is more than 3.5
times, whereas for the flexural-torsional buckling mode,
it is more than 2.5 times. An increase in global loads re-
sults from a significant increase in the global flexural
stiffness of the cross-section. The local flexural stiffness
of individual walls remains practically unaltered in com-
parison with regular symmetric angle-ply laminates.
Together with a change in the angle H, the number of
halfwaves m that corresponds to the lowest value of the
local buckling changes as well. For the plies arranged at
the angle H = 45, the number of halfwaves that form
along the column length is m = 10, whereas for the angle
H = 0—m = 5, and for H = 90—m = 19, respectively.
This result agrees with the results obtained by the
authors (see papers by [8,13]). As can bee seen from this
comparison, the fact that a change in the arrangement of

Table 4
Load-carrying capacity within the first-order approximation for the channel length ‘ = 390 mm and the imperfections j fft j¼ 1:0; j ff j¼ 1:0; j fl j¼ 0:2
H = 45 [deg] Flexural-torsional global Flexural global Local buckling Load-carrying
buckling mode buckling mode mode capacity
Nft/h [N/mm2] Nf/h [N/mm2] Nl/h [N/mm2] Ns/h [N/mm2]
Antisymmetric angle-ply laminates 59.55 76.60 68.72 34.78
Symmetric angle-ply laminates 58.72 76.69 63.87 32.40
312 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313

layers can result in a change in the number of halfwaves Ncr /h [N/mm2]

that form along the longitudinal direction should be ta- 50
ken into consideration in the analysis. This can explain 45
the practically symmetric distribution of the lowest val- 40
ues of critical loads of the local buckling with respect to 35
the value H = 45 in Figs. 4 and 5. 30
1
The above observation allows for a conclusion that a 25
rational way of designing the way of laminate ply 2
20
arrangement is purposeful (Fig. 6). 15
In the next figure (Fig. 7) a variability of global flex- 10
ural and lowest local critical loads for the cylindrical 5
Θ [deg]
shell under compression and characterised by the fol- 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
lowing geometrical dimensions:
Fig. 7. Global flexural and lowest local critical loads for cylindrical
R ¼ 430 ½mm; ‘ ¼ 4130 ½mm; h ¼ 1 ½mm
shell.
made of an 8-layer symmetric laminate [H/H/H/H/
H/H/H/H]T with the following properties [26]:
The present solution method allows one to analyse
E1 ¼ 129:1 ½GPa; E2 ¼ 9:43 ½GPa; G ¼ 5:39 ½GPa;
the modal buckling of plate-shell structures made of
m12 ¼ 0:288; hply ¼ 0:125 ½mm multi-layer composites.
as a function of the angle H is presented. The identical
dimensional ratios have been assumed as in the cylindri-
cal vessel experimentally investigated by Magnucki et al. 5. Conclusions
[17]. In this figure the lowest critical values of local
buckling of the shell are shown. The curves are denoted, A modified method of solution to the stability prob-
respectively: 1—flexural buckling mode, 2—local one. lem and determination of initial post-buckling equilib-
As can be seen, the critical values of local buckling rium paths for plate-shell multi-layer structures has
reach the maximum for H = 15 [deg] and for H = 75 been postulated. The present method can be easily
[deg], whereas the minimum for H = 0 and 90 [deg]. adopted in rational design of layered thin-walled struc-
The global critical load reaches the minimum for tures within the linear and non-linear theory of buckling
H = 50 [deg], whereas the maximum for 0 6 H 6 20 of multi-layer structures.
[deg] and H  90 [deg]. The most advantageous case
with respect to maximum global and local critical loads
is the arrangement of layers at the angle H = 15 [deg] for Appendix A. Kinematic and static conditions of
the given geometrical ratios of the cylindrical shell and interaction between adjacent plates
for the way of its arrangement under consideration. In
the case of the shell, sensitivity to imperfections cannot According to (14), kinematics and static conditions of
be analysed within the first-order approximation. the interaction on the longitudinal edges of adjacent
plates (for ‘‘i’’ and ‘‘i + 1’’) can be written as (Fig. A.1):

20
m
15

10

5
ϕ
Θ [deg]
0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90

Fig. 6. The number of halfwaves m for the lowest buckling modes

versus the angle H. Fig. A.1. Prismatic plate structure and the local co-ordinate system.
 Z. Kolakowski, M. Krolak / Composite Structures 76 (2006) 303–313 313

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 ð0Þ ¼ ðK 11  K 2 =K 22 ÞD
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