New Robustness-Based Design Strategy for Thin-Walled Composite Structures

Abstract

A new robustness-based design strategy for thin-walled composite structures in post-buckling is presented, which combines load-based performance with robustness requirements evaluated from the structural energy until collapse. In order to assess the structural energy, the area under the load-shortening curve is calculated. In this context, a geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis is carried out, in which the ply properties are degraded by progressive failure. This methodology gives a new argument to shift the collapse closer to ultimate load once robustness is ensured. As originality, this work investigates the robustness of composite structures in post-buckling from the perspective of its structural energy. Moreover, robustness measures are proposed.