Wrinkling prediction of laminated composite panels under in-plane shear deformation

Abstract

In this article, the wrinkling behavior of laminated orthotropic composite panels due to in-plane shear deformation is investigated using nonlinear finite element analysis. Our model of the different laminated composite panels was set up for in-plane shear deformation at one end, with the opposing end fully restrained. Initially, A static analysis was carried out to establish the shear induced stress distribution patterns in the elastic panels assuming no wrinkling. This was then followed by performing eigenvalue analysis to determine the potential buckling modes of the elastic panels under prescribed boundary conditions. Finally, a nonlinear post-buckling analysis was performed to show the evolution of shear-induced wrinkling. We studied the effect of lamina orientations upon the development of shear-induced compressive stresses in the transverse direction. Our model, which was verified with existing experiments, shows the resulting wrinkling patterns, their amplitude, and their wave lengths under the prescribed loads and boundary conditions. Our model predictions further reveal a sudden shift in wrinkling patterns near the fixed and free boundaries of the panels at a given critical load.