Buckling of laminated columns containing delaminations

Abstract

Compressive load carrying capability of delaminated columns depends upon the buckling and growth charactenstics of the sublaminate. For purposes of analysis, the delaminated column is divided into four regions. Linear beam-column theory is employed in three regions and large deformation terms are retained in the fourth region to consider the post buckled state of sublaminate. Strain energy release rate criteria is employed to obtain the growth characteristics of the delamination. Compressive load carrying behaviour of the delaminated columns fixed at either end containing a through delamination has been studied. A simple continuum procedure is used in the first instance to bring out the phenomenon. The finite element scheme is used, later to confirm the results. In general the compressive load carrying capability reduces with the increase in the size of the delamination. Buckling load of the completely slit configuration of the columr represents the highest load it can carry when the delamination is larger than a certain critical size.