Buckling of symmetrically laminated plates using nth-order shear deformation theory with curvature effects

In this article, an exact analytical solution for mechanical buckling analysis of symmetrically cross-ply laminated plates including curvature effects is presented. The equilibrium equations are derived according to the refined <i>n</i>th-order shear deformation theory. The present refined <i>n</i>th-order shear deformation theory is based on assumption that the in-plane and transverse displacements consist of bending and shear components, in which the bending components do not contribute toward shear forces and, likewise, the shear components do not contribute toward bending moments The most interesting feature of this theory is that it accounts for a parabolic variation of the transverse shear strains across the thickness and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factors. Buckling of orthotropic laminates subjected to biaxial inplane is investigated. Using the Navier solution method, the differential equations have been solved analytically and the critical buckling loads presented in closed-form solutions. The sensitivity of critical buckling loads to the effects of curvature terms and other factors has been examined. The analysis is validated by comparing results with those in the literature.