Compression strength of composite primary structural components

The geometrically nonlinear response and failure of thin-walled structural components made from advanced composite materials is discussed. The materials involved are structural components in flight vehicle structures that are laminated from graphite-epoxy unidirectional tape. The investigation involves the buckling, postbuckling, and failure of structures subject to axial compression. The structural analysis was performed using the Structural Analysis of General Shells (STAGS) computer code. Experimental and theoretical methods are used to study the fundamental mechanisms limiting the load-carrying capacity of these components.