Stability and strength analysis of thin-walled GLARE composite profiles subjected to axial loading

Abstract

The subject of the paper is the stability and strength analysis of Fibre Metal Laminate thin-walled members subjected to axial loading. This study concerns specifically angle-ply multi-layered Glass Reinforced Aluminium (GLARE) composite type wherein the main focus is on the top-hat open cross-section profiles. Specimens were prepared by autoclave technique that provided a high-quality manufacturing. Symmetrical 3/2 lay-ups were analysed for which 7 stacking sequences were distinguished based on the fibres alignment in the composite layer. Composite specimens were axially compressed in laboratory tests by means of static testing unit that provided displacement control loading. The behaviour of thin-walled GLARE members was investigated with the main attention to post-buckling response together with various failure modes. First Ply Failure (FPF) analysis was carried out simultaneously by Tsai-Wu, Hashin and Puck failure criteria in order to detect a first failure occurrence. FEM analysis included also an attempt to estimate particular regions of laminate’s damage in post-buckling state. Application of various failure criteria allowed to track failure initiation and predict collapsed mode shapes of GLARE top-hat members that were found to be in a good agreement with experimental evidences.