Buckling and Postbuckling Behaviour of Composite Laminated Shell Structures

Abstract

Imperfection Sensitive COmposite Launcher Structures and was a Research Project within the 7th Framework Programme. It started in 2012 and was finished in July 2015. The main objective of DESICOS was the development of a new future design scenario for imperfection sensitive composite structures that are understood as parts of real launchers. The project developed different analysis-based-methods to exploit further the reserves in the capacities of imperfection sensitive shells. The final results comprise an assessment of the methods for different kinds of structure type (cylindrical, conical, monolithic, sandwich, . . .). More details can be also found at www.desicos.eu. With great pleasure, I would like to thank all authors for writing such excellent papers. Furthermore, the reviewers deserve praise and appreciation for their valuable criticisms and suggestions, which contributed directly to improve the technical content of this Special Issue. Finally, I would like to thank the editor-in-chief J.N. Reddy for his agreement to make this issue possible.