Post-Buckling Behavior of Laminated Composite Cylindrical Shells Subjected to Axial, Bending and Torsion Loads

Abstract

In present work, post-buckling behavior of imperfect (of eigen form) laminated composite cylin-drical shells with different L/D and R/t ratios subjected to axial, bending and torsion loads has been investigated by using an equilibrium path approach in the finite element analysis. The New-ton-Raphson approach as well as the arc-length approach is used to ensure the correctness of the equilibrium paths up to the limit point load. Post-buckling behavior of imperfect cylindrical shells with different L/D and R/t ratios of interest is obtained and the theoretical knock-down factors are reported for the considered cylindrical shells.