Buckling of simply supported GLARE cylindrical panels subjected to uniform compression

Abstract

In this article, the elastic buckling behaviour of cylindrical GLARE (GLAss REinforced) panels with classically simply supported boundary conditions under uniaxial compression is investigated using the finite element method (FEM) and eigenvalue buckling analysis. The buckling coefficient-curvature parameter diagrams of five GLARE grades are obtained and studied along with the diagrams of two glass-fiber composites and monolithic 2024-T3 aluminum, using validated FEM models. It is found that aluminium has a stronger impact on the buckling behaviour of the GLARE panels than the composite layers. From the constructed buckling coefficient - curvature parameter diagrams in double logarithmic scale it is found that there is an approximately linear relation between the buckling coefficient and the curvature parameter of the panels. Based on this finding, appropriate regressions are implemented in order to derive approximate analytical formulas of the buckling coefficient as a function of the curvature parameter for the considered materials.