Buckling of delaminated bi-layer beam-columns

An improved analytical model is presented to analyze the delamination buckling of a bi-layer beam-column with a through-the-width delamination. Both the transverse shear deformation and local delamination tip deformations are taken into consideration, and two delaminated sub-layers as well as two substrates in the intact (un-delaminated) regions are modeled as individual Timoshenko beams. A deformable interface is introduced to establish the continuity condition between the two substrates in the intact regions. Consequently, a flexible joint is formed at the delamination tip, and it is different from the conventional rigid joint given in most of studies in the literature, in which the local delamination tip deformations are completely ignored. In contrast to the local delamination buckling in our previous study (Qiao et al., 2010), the present model accounts for the global deformations of the intact region in the delaminated composite beam-column, thus capable of capturing the buckling mode shape transitions from the global, to global–local coexistent, and to local buckling for asymmetric delamination as the interface delamination increases. Good agreement of the present analytical solutions with the full 2-D elastic finite element analysis demonstrates the local deformation effects around the delamination tip and verifies the accuracy of the present model. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of loading eccentricity, delaminated sub-layer thickness ratio, and interface compliance on the critical buckling load for the delaminated composite beam-column. Transitions of buckling modes from the global to local delamination buckling are also disclosed as the thickness of one sub-layer reduces from the thick sub-layer to a thin film. The developed delamination buckling solution facilitates the design analysis and optimization of laminated composite structures, and it can be used with confidence in buckling analysis of delaminated composite structures.