Buckling response of rectangular laminated composite plates with cutouts

Results from numerical and experimental study of the buckling response of compression-loaded E/glass-epoxy composite plates with centrally located circular and semicircular cutouts are presented. The effects of ply orientation angle and cutout shape on the buckling response of laminates subjected to uniaxial static loads are investigated. The laminated composites are analyzed using the finite element analysis software ANSYS. The change in critical buckling response of thin rectangular symmetric and antisymmetric laminates with respect to the ply orientation angle and cutout shape has been studied. In addition, results are presented from buckling analysis and these results are compared to experimentally measured results.