Differential quadrature solutions for buckling of laminated beams with multiple arbitrary delaminations

Based on Timoshenko beam theory, a multi-beam model was presented for buckling analysis of laminated beams with arbitrary multiple delaminations, using differential quadrature (DQ) method. Comparisons showed high consistent between the critical buckling loads of the model with a single delamination and those coming from relative references. The investigations of the clamped beams were made to reveal the influences of the length, the depth and the positions of the delaminations on buckling loads. The configuration including a beam with two across-the-width delaminations with arbitrary lengths and located at arbitrary depths was studied. DQ method provides a simple and effective method for the buckling analysis of laminated beams with arbitrary multiple across-the-width delaminations, and provides some valuable results for design of laminated structures.