Open Access

ARTICLE

Asymptotic Postbuckling Analysis of Composite and Sandwich Structures via the Assumed Strain Solid Shell Element Formulation

Jihan Kim¹, Yong Hyup Kim¹, Sung Won Lee²

1 Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
2 University of Maryland, College Park, MD, U.S.A

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2004, 6(3), 263-276. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2004.006.263

Abstract

The Koiter's asymptotic method is combined with the assumed strain solid shell element formulation for postbuckling analysis of composite and sandwich structures. The assumed strain solid shell element is free of locking and the small angle assumption, and it allows multiple plies through the element thickness. While laminated composite structures are modeled with single element through the thickness, sandwich structures are modeled with three elements stacked through the thickness to model the face sheets and the core independently. The Koiter's method is used to trace initial postbuckling path. Subsequently, the Koiter's method is switched to the arc-length method to investigate postbuckling behavior involving large deflections. The transition point at which the switching occurs is determined using the postbuckling coefficients, obtained from the asymptotic analysis with the fourth order expansion. Numerical tests demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the present approach.

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Keywords

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