Experimental and numerical analysis of stability and failure of compressed composite plates

Abstract

This paper investigates the stability, load-carrying capacity and failure analysis of thin-walled plate elements weakened by cut-out and subjected to axial compression. Tested plates were made in asymmetric configuration from CFRP composite material with used autoclave technique. The scope of the research included experimental tests on real samples and numerical calculations with using the finite element method in the ABAQUS® program. The influence of the compressive load on the buckling and postbuckling behavior and loss of load capacity of thin-walled composite plates were investigated. Both, the experimental tests and the numerical analysis were carried out in the full load range, up to the structure failure. In the experimental tests, acoustic emissions were used to analyze the damage state of the composite material. Numerical calculations were carried out with the use of progressive failure analysis, based on the initiation of the failure from the Hashin's theory and the further evolution of the failure based on the energy criterion. Numerical results of critical and post-critical state were compare with experimental research showing areas prone to failure of the material. A measurable effect of the conducted research was obtaining a high compatibility of the results of numerical and experimental calculations.