Investigation of Geometric and Material Effects on Critical Load of Thermoplastic-Matrix Composite Plates with a Square Hole under In-Plane Loadings

In this study, an investigation of buckling analysis which includes geometric and material effects on critical load of thermoplastic-matrix composite plates with square hole is carried out by using finite element method (FEM). A finite element computer program is developed for finding critical loads. The composite plates ([0⁰/ 0⁰]₂) under transverse loading are formed by stacking four composite layers bonded symmetrically or antisymmetrically. Each layer with constant thickness is meshed into 48 elements and 228 nodes.The first-order shear deformation theory is employed in mathematical formulation. the effects on critical load by ply lamination geometry, plate thickness ratio, loading types, hole size, and material modulus ratio have been investigated. Numerical solutions are given in graphical forms.