Postbuckling of layered composites by finite strain micromechanical analysis

A finite deformation micromechanical analysis that includes the effect of initial geometrical imperfection is formulated and employed to demonstrate its capability to predict the mechanical and thermal postbuckling of periodic bilayered composites. This micromechanical model, is based on the analysis of doubly periodic composites in conjunction with the homogenization technique. The field equations are modified to incorporate the effect of initial wavy imperfection, which is essential for development and analysis of the postbuckling phenomenon. Nonlinear, compressible neo-Hookean law is adopted for representing the behavior of the composites constituents. The offered approach is employed to predict the postbuckling behavior of layered composites under compressive mechanical loading. In addition, the possibility of the occurrence of postbuckling as a result of thermal stresses developing during the application of a temperature drop is examined.