Effect of nonlinear edge loads and hybridization of FMLs on buckling performance of interlaminar composites with/without cutouts

Abstract

The solution for the buckling problems of fibre metal laminates is usually based on the assumptions that the plates are subjected to uniform edges loads without any discontinuity or damages. Nevertheless, in practice the plates are subjected to various kinds of nonlinear/nonuniform edge loads along with various sized and positioned openings. The present work mainly focused on the vibration and buckling performance of inter laminar hybrid fiber metal laminates (HFMLs) with and without cutouts subjected to different kinds of nonlinear loading conditions by utilizing finite element approach. Towards this a 9-noded heterosis plate element has been used to discretize the plate by taking into account the effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia. Since the stress distribution within the plate is highly non-uniform in nature, the dynamic approach has been used to solve the buckling problems. The present study consists of aluminum metal face sheets bonded with four layered symmetric hybrid cross-ply laminates, in which six different hybrid configurations have been considered. The performance of each hybrid configuration along with different sized and positioned cutouts is well investigated under various nonlinear loading conditions.