The Buckling of a Delaminated Sublaminate on an Elastic Foundation

Abstract

A one-dimensional model of a delamination in a laminated structure is considered in order to evaluate the effective edge fixity coefficient and the load at which the delaminated sublaminate buckles. A Rayleigh-Ritz energy method is applied to the model and the ef fective boundary fixity coefficient, c' , and the relative delamination tip deflection, w_d/w_c, are determined. Appreciable reductions in the buckling load, as compared to classical clamped boundary conditions, and nonzero deflections at the delamination front are pre dicted. The model also provides a rule of thumb as to the area around a delaminated sub laminate which must be modeled as an elastic foundation in order to properly predict the buckling behavior of the sublaminate.