Thermal Buckling of Laminated Composite Plates Using a Simple Four Variable Plate Theory

Abstract

In this study, the thermal buckling behavior of composite laminate plates cross-ply and angle-ply all edged simply supported subjected to a uniform temperature field is investigated, using a simple trigonometric shear deformation theory. Four unknown variables are involved in the theory, and satisfied the zero traction boundary condition on the surface without using shear correction factors, Hamilton's principle is used to derive equations of  motion depending on a Simple Four Variable Plate Theory for cross-ply and angle-ply, and then solved through Navier's double trigonometric sequence, to obtain critical buckling temperature for laminated composite plates. Effect of changing some design parameters such as, orthotropy ratio (E1/E2), aspect ratio (a/b),  thickness ratio (a/h), thermal expansion coefficient ratio (α2/α1), are investigated, which have the same behavior and good agreement when compared with previously published results with maximum discrepancy (0.5%).