Buckling analysis of moderately thick composite plates and plate structures using an exact finite strip

An exact finite strip for the buckling analysis of moderately thick symmetrically cross-ply laminated composite plates and plate structures is presented in this paper by using First-order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT). Based on the concept that the so-called strip is effectively a plate, the critical buckling load and out-of-plane deflection mode shape are obtained by solving the Von-Karman’s equilibrium equation exactly. A transcendental stiffness matrix is obtained for an individual strip. The overall stiffness matrix for the whole section is obtained by assembling the individual stiffness matrices. Since the overall stiffness matrix is transcendental, it is not possible to identify a separate geometric stiffness matrix. In this paper a secure method i.e. bisection method is used to find the buckling load and the corresponding buckling mode of the plate structure.