POSTBUCKLING ANALYSIS OF METAL-MATRIX LAMINATED PLATES

The postbuckling behavior and imperfection sensitivity of Metal-Matrix Composite (MMC) laminated plates are investigated. This is performed by employing a micromechanical analysis which provides the overall instantaneous elastic-viscoplastic behavior of the metal-matrix composite, and a marcomechanical analysis which yields the response of the composite plate to the applied external loading. Results are presented for unidirectional, antisymmetric angle-ply and symmetric cross-ply laminated plates, made of boron/aluminum composites, and subjected to compressive axial loading applied at a constant strain rate. The effects of rate sensitivity, initial imperfections, fiber volume ratios, ply orientations and temperature are illustrated. Comparisons with the corresponding results, obtained by neglecting the viscoplastic effects of the metallic matrix, are presented.