Local buckling of composite corrugated compression panels

Abstract

This paper investigates the problem of local instability of corrugated panels fabricated from composite materials and subjected to in-plane compressive loading. The panels are considered as a series of linked plate strips with rotationally restrained unloaded edges. At buckling, the moments and slopes at each common edge are related in such a way as to satisfy equilibrium and compatibility conditions. The local buckling coefficient for various geometries and different composites are obtained. It is concluded that unidirectional composite corrugated panels have lower local buckling resistance than panels made of isotropic materials, and hence layers of angle-ply fibers should be included in the laminates in order to improve the local buckling strength.

Keywords:

• corrugated panels
• local buckling
• local instability
• composite panels
• compression panels
• buckling strength
• composite structures