The Lyapunov exponents as a quantitative criterion for the dynamic buckling of composite plates

The dynamic stability of infinitely wide composite plates subjected to suddenly applied thermal or mechanical loading is investigated. The stability analysis is performed by evaluating the largest Lyapunov exponent, the sign of which characterizes the nature of the response. It is shown that this approach forms an efficient tool which provides a quantitative and unequivocal answer to the question of dynamic buckling of composite plates subjected to various types of loading.