Buckling of orthotropic beam-plates with multiple central delaminations

closed form solution is developed for predicting the critical load of a composite beamplate with multiple delaminations. The characteristic equation is derived by using non-linear beam theory, performing proper linearization and by imposing the appropriate kinematical continuity and equilibrium conditions. The effects of the dimensions and locations of the delaminations on the critical load are investigated and the results are compared with previously published data. 0 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.