Buckling analysis of composite laminates under end shortening by higher-order shear deformable finite strips

A higher-order shear deformable nite strip is developed and employed in the buckling analysis of laminated composite plates when subjected to uniform end shortening. This enables the transverse shear deformation to be accurately incorporated. The permitted laminate material properties are quite general, encompassing anisotropy and full coupling between in-plane and out-of-plane behaviour. Results with respect to the number of plies, thickness of laminate and ratios of E11=E22 are presented for unsymmetric cross-ply and angle-ply lay-ups and for laminates with arbitrary lay-up arrangements