Simulation of wrinkling in incompressible anisotropic thin sheets with wavy fibers

Abstract

A two-dimensional plate theory is derived for incompressible transversely isotropic fiber-reinforced materials with wavy fibers. Single-layer plates and two-layer laminates are considered. Numerical simulations of axially loaded rectangular sheets in the post-buckling regime illustrate the marked effect fiber waviness has on both the wrinkling patterns and the effective axial stiffness. For fibers oriented along the loading axis, increased waviness tends to decrease the axial stiffness. Conversely, for fibers oriented transverse to the loading direction, increased waviness tends to increase stiffness.