Finite Element Analysis of Buckling of Simply Supported Composite Plate for Different Orientation Angles

Buckling is the loss of stability of structure due to geometric effect leading to the failure if the resulting deformations are not restrained. Composite structures are stronger and expensive as compared to the conventional materials. This paper studied the behaviour of the simply supported composite plate under axial compressive load for different orientation angle to obtain the best orientation angle of the fibres at which critical buckling load becomes maximum. The effect of number of plies on the critical buckling load is also studied. The buckling analysis is carried out for Graphite/Epoxy and Glass/Epoxy composite and their hybrid combinations and is compared with respect to weight, cost and critical buckling load. The analysis is also extended for sandwich composite plate and is compared with metal sandwich plate. The buckling analysis is carried out by using finite element software ANSYS 15 and is validated with the existing literature and mathematical model built up by using Classical lamination theory.