Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

LAMINATED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS: APPLICATIONS

AND BEHAVIOUR

Hemendra Kumar Jain

M.Tech. Student, Deptt. of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee – 247667.
Email: hkj401@gmail.com

Akhil Upadhyay
Associate Professor, Deptt. of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee – 247667.
Email: akhilfce@iitr.ernet.in

ABSTRACT

Composite materials are formed by the combination of two or more materials that retain their respective
characteristics when combined together to achieve desired properties (physical, chemical, etc.) that are
superior to those of individual constituents. The main components of composites are reinforcing agents and
matrix. Composites have high strength-to-weight ratio and high stiffness-to-weight ratio as compared to
conventional materials. Composite are used in many sectors like civil, aerospace, automobiles, marine,
medical and power transmission etc., but in this paper more emphasis is given on structural applications.

This paper presents the literature review of application and behaviour of laminated composite stiffened
panels in structural members. Being a thin walled structure, their behaviour is governed by stability criteria.
Here brief review of stability behaviour of laminated composite stiffened panels is presented along with
addition the knowledge are also identified into which more comprehensive analysis is needed.

INTRODUCTION

Since the early dawn of civilization, the strong and light material has always fascinated mankind for typical
applications. The idea of composite materials are formed by the combination of two or more materials that
retain their respective characteristics when combined together to achieve desired properties (physical,
chemical, etc.) that are superior to those of individual constituents. The main components of composites are
reinforcing agents and matrix. The fibers, particulates & whiskers act as the reinforcement and provide most
of the stiffness & strength. The matrix binds the reinforcement together thus effecting the load transfer from
matrix to reinforcement. Composites are light weight possess high strength-to-weight ratio and high stiffness-
to-weight ratio as compared to conventional materials. Laminated composites are a special form of FRP
which belongs to the new generation of energy efficient materials, almost dominating over the metallic
materials. The potential of laminated composites offer several possibilities but on the other hand the
mechanical characterization of a composite structure is more complex than that of metal structures.

Laminated composite stiffened panels, which are anisotropic and orthotropic in nature, are gaining popularity
in structural applications such as long span bridge decks, ship deck hulls, buildings, water tank and
superstructure of offshore oil platforms etc. The use of laminated composite provides flexibility to tailor
different properties of the structural elements to achieve strength and stiffness requirements.

Many composite structure are thin-walled in nature, the assessment of their buckling behaviour is a
predominant aspect of analysis and design. Mallela U. K. and Upadhyay A. (2006) present parametric studies
on simply supported laminated composite blade-stiffened panels subject to in-plane shear loading. Knippers
J. and Gabler M.(2007) are offer new option especially bridge deck systems made out of fibre reinforced
polymers (FRP), hybrid structures are competitive, i.e. steel girders combined with a pultruded FRP bridge
deck. Based on this technology the design of a highway flyover was developed. The bridge, to be constructed
during 2006-07, will be the first major FRP road bridge in Germany. The innovative technology, its
economical aspects and the design of the bridge are highlighted in this paper. Upadhyay A. and
Kalyanaraman (2003) discussed the behavior of FRP box girders and proposed a simplified computationally
efficient method for the analysis of single cell FRP box – girder bridges made of blade, angle or T stiffened
panels.
Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

LAMINATED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS

Laminated composite stiffened panels are generic structural elements in weight sensitive structure
applications, which are made by adjoin of laminated composite plate and stiffeners. Laminated composite
plates are made by stacking of lamina with various orientation of the principle material direction. Stiffened
panel consist of laminated composite plate provided with stiffeners in the longitudinal and/or transverse
direction. Composite plate stiffened by different type of stiffeners. These are broadly classified as open type
and closed type or box type. Open type are torsionally week while closed type or box type are torsionally
stiff. Fig.1 shows a schematic representation of different type of stiffeners. Some various shaped stiffening
members commonly used for panel structural concepts are “T”, “Z”, “I”, “C”, “J”, and hat. One very
common type of stiffener is the so-called blade stiffener which actually is a plate perpendicularly attached to
the composite plate. A typical arrangement of this class can be found in Fig. 2. These panels are becoming
increasingly used in structural applications because of their high specific stiffness (stiffness per unit weight)
and specific strength (strength per unit weight). The stiffened elements representing a relatively small part of
the total weight of the structure substantially influence their stiffness and stability.

Fig.1.Example for stiffeners cross section

Fig.2.Composite blade stiffened panel (open type)

ADVANTAGE OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS

Laminated composite stiffened panels have the advantage of both features structural form and material.
A few significant advantages are:
 Composites can provide structures that are 25-45 % lighter than the conventional structures
designed to meet the same functional requirements.
 Tensile strength of composites is four to six times greater than that of steel or aluminium.
 Unidirectional fiber composites have specific modulus (ratio of material stiffness to density) about 3
to 5 times greater than that of steel and aluminium.
 Fatigue endurance limit of composites may approach 60% of their ultimate tensile strength. For steel
and aluminium, this value is considerably lower.
 Corrosion resistance of fiber composites leads to reduced life cycle cost.
 Unlimited capacity to be molded (fabric impregnated in situ) and perfect adaptability to the original
shape of the structural element that needs to be reinforced, stiffened or integrated.
 Simple application methods with absence of complex preparation.
 Better durability, excellent damage tolerance, non invasive application, improved torsional stiffness
and impact properties.
 Composites are less noisy while in operation and provide lower vibration transmission than metals.
 Composites are more versatile than metals and can be tailored to meet performance needs and
complex design requirements.
 Excellent fatigue, impact, environmental resistance and reduced maintenance.
 Composites enjoy reduced life cycle cost compared to metals.
Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

 Composites exhibit excellent corrosion resistance and fire retardancy.

 Improved appearance with smooth surfaces and readily incorporable integral decorative melamine
are other characteristics of composites.
 Composite parts can eliminate joints/fasteners, providing part simplification and integrated design
compared to conventional metallic parts.

In addition to above, From an economic point of view, the main factors contributing to their competitiveness
with respect to conventional materials are time saving, flexibility, low labor costs, low tooling and machinery
costs on the construction site because of the light weight and manageability of tools, possibility of restoring a
structure without interrupting its utilization by users and durability. In spite of many advantages of laminated
composites over traditional materials, complex mechanics involved in laminated fibrous composites poses
new challenges for the construction industry.

The downside of composites is usually the cost. Although manufacturing processes are often more efficient
when composites are used, the raw materials are expensive. At present composites can not totally replace
traditional materials like steel, but in many cases they are just what we need. And no doubt new uses will be
found as the technology evolves.

WHY USE THE LAMINATED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS?

In all cases of buckling of plates, critical loads are proportional to the flexural rigidity of the plates. The
stiffeners are of very less weight but at the same time enhance the in-plane critical load carrying capacity
when compared with unstiffened panels. Stability of the plate increases with the increase in the thickness of
the plate but a more economical solution is obtained by keeping the thickness of the plate as small as possible
and increasing the stability by introducing stiffeners. Being a thin walled structure the design of stiffened
plates is governed both by stability and strength criterion.

These panels are becoming increasingly used in structural applications because of their high specific stiffness
(stiffness per unit weight) and specific strength (strength per unit weight).The laminated composite panels are
high strength material so thickness requirement is less as compare to conventional material as well as
thickness requirement is less from strain point of view so analysis and design is governed by stiffness and
stability consideration.

Many composite structure are thin-walled in nature, the assessment of their buckling behaviour is a
predominant aspect of analysis and design. Composite possess high in plane strength so this is not a major
issue of analysis or designing but stability need proper attention and efficient structural form, which is
provided by stiffened panels. Sufficient weight reduction can be achieved by the use of stiffened panels.

APPLICATION OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS

Laminated composite stiffened panels are widely employed in many engineering application. Such structures
are usually thin-walled and therefore susceptible to buckling. Stiffened panels are generic structural elements
in weight sensitive structural, civil, aerospace and marine applications. A laminated composite stiffened
panel, which is anisotropic and orthotropic, are gaining popularity in structural applications such as long span
bridge decks, ship deck hulls and superstructure of offshore oil platforms etc.

APPLICATION OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE PANELS IN MARINE ENGINEERING

With composites exhibiting excellent resistance to the marine environment, their applications have made
good inroads in the marine sector worldwide. Complex configurations & the advantages of seamless hulls
were the main driving factors in the development of FRP boats. Racing power boats employ advanced &
hybrid composites for a higher performance craft and driver safety. Major structural elements viz.
deckhouses, hatch covers, kings posts & bow modules, high speed boats, naval vessels, sail boats, fishing
boats, high capacity trawlers, barges & other ship components appears to be very well suited for FRP
construction.

Deck and ship bottom structures are modelled as assemblies of laminated composite stiffened panels. The
layered configuration of laminated structures allows opportunities to embed and integrate specialized
materials into the composite lay-up which provide improved electromagnetic performance. U.S. shipbuilding
industry recently has started incorporating composite materials as well as laminated composited stiffened
Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

panels in the construction of both military and commercial ships due to the advantages of composite
construction. Fig.3 and Fig.4 shows application of FRP panels in boats.

Sarah E Mouring(1998) focuses on different fiber orientations for the frames and summarizes preliminary
results of the testing of composite stiffened panels with preform frames under in-plane uniaxial compressive
loads. Such loads are representative of the forces caused by wave bending moments which develop from
alternative hogging and sagging wave conditions. Biaxial (0, 90), quadaxial (0, 90,+45,−45), and triaxial
(+45,−45,0) laminates were used in the frames.

Fig.3.Lay-up configuration for advanced material transporter Fig.4.Laminated hat stiffened deck house
(AMT) validation model [Nguyen, 93 Sml Boat] panels test element [Scoot Bartlett, NSWC]

APPLICATION OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE PANELS IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS) USA is exploring new structural
configurations in the form of advanced grid composite stiffened panel and corresponding methods for
fabricating launch vehicle fairings. The aerospace industry began to use composites in pressure vessels,
containers, and non -structural aircraft components. A structurally efficient hat-stiffened panel concept that
utilizes structural foam as a stiffener core material has been designed and developed for aircraft primary
structural applications. This hat-stiffener concept is structurally more efficient than most other prismatically
stiffened panel configurations in a load range that is typical for both fuselage and wing structures. Fig.5
shows application of stiffened panels in jet.

Fig.5.The entire fuselage of the boeing’s 787 Dreomliner jet built with carbon fiber

York et al. (1993) have designed eight benchmark stiffened laminated wing panels for aircraft. These
benchmark panels had three identical and equally spaced blade stiffeners. Fig.6 shows an isometric view of
the components of the Dornier wing and also shows a plan view of its top skin and stacking sequence.
Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

Fig.6.(a) Isometric view of the components of the Dornier wing (b) Plan view of the top skin (c) Staking
sequence of benchmark panels

APPLICATION OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE PANELS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Laminated composite stiffened panels have long been used in the construction industry. Applications range
from non-structural gratings and claddings to full structural systems for industrial supports, buildings, long
span roof structures, tanks, bridge components and complete bridge systems.

LAMINATED COMPOSITE PANELS IN BRIDGES

Civil engineers are beginning to gain confidence and experience in applying this technology to civil
structures. In October 1996, the Federal Highway Administration organized and sponsored a scanning tour on
advanced composites in bridges to three selected European countries and Japan. The purpose of the tour was
to assess the state-of-the-art in the use of composites stiffened panels in bridge construction. The technical
findings from the scanning team are basically categorized into new bridge construction, and strengthening of
existing bridges.

With the ageing of (more than 50 years) many bridges in the US, alternative options are being explored to
retrofit the bridges or replace the old decks with lighter decks which meet the service criteria of the existing
decks and even replace the bridges itself. Considering, the sheer number (almost 23% 0f 600,000 bridges) of
bridges which are structurally deficient and functionally obsolete (Hwang-Chu Wu et al. 2006 and Halvard E.
Nystrom et al. 2003). According to a data base recently compiled by the Composites Institute, there are more
than 80 bridge projects worldwide using FRP composites panels. The U.S. has a modest beginning with 30
projects, 26 of which were built within the last 4 years. The remaining discussion in this will focus on some
of the initial successful bridge applications in the U.S. using FRP composites panels. The discussion will also
include the advantages, characteristics, concerns, and future needs to advance the composite technology into
the civil infrastructure. In new bridge construction, the FRP composite panels may be used in the entire
structure, or they could be used as structural members or components. Some of example illustrated in Fig.7.

Fig.7.FRP Bridge Decks: Panels being placed into position

A key factor behind bridge deterioration is the corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete decks, exacerbated
by road salt used to combat winter ice and snow. FRP panels are expected to be much more durable than
ordinary concrete and steel. A rapid growth of interest in FRP composites panels for bridge construction has
resulted in a multitude of recent research and development initiatives and demonstration projects. The high
strength, high fatigue resistance, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance of composites are desirable
Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

characteristics for bridge application, especially for decks. Bridge decks are subjected to severe
environmental conditions and heavy traffic loads. They sometimes account for a major percentage of a bridge
structure’s dead load. FRP deck weighs approximately 80% less than a concrete deck. Reducing the dead
load will increase the allowable live load capacity of the bridge without significant repair to the existing
superstructure, thus lengthening its service life. Hence, lightweight and durable FRPs can be an excellent
candidate for replacing concrete decks.

A review indicates that extensive research is being carried out both in laboratory as well as on ground to
design the FRP decks and study the response to various external effects. Lot of on ground applications in the
form of pedestrian bridges, hybrid bridges (with RC), all composite bridges and bridge decks as replacement
in old bridges are underway in US, Europe, Australia, Korea etc. Two major types of FRP composite bridge
decks are currently in use: sandwich type construction and cellular or stiffened structure.

LAMINATED COMPOSITE PANELS IN BUILDINGS

The composite panel is an ideal material for the manufacture of prefabricated, portable and modular buildings
as well as for exterior cladding panels which can simulate masonry or stone. The all too familiar translucent
roof sheeting is now supplied in a variety of colours and profiles to suit both commercial and domestic
building needs. Stiffened panels are used in wall, ceiling, door, building blocks and primary load bearing
structure etc. This area holds priority for the induction of composites in place of conventional materials being
used as in doors & windows, paneling, furniture and other interiors. Components made of composite panels
find extensive applications in shuttering supports, special architectural structures imparting aesthetic
appearance etc. with the advantages like longer life, low maintenance, ease in workability, fire retardancy etc.

Fig.8.Site office/Visitor’s Centre at Severn Crossing is made by composite stiffened panels

Laminated composited stiffened panels are also used in commercial canop, water tank, daylighting matel
building, power plant, automobile, railway, medical, sky bus coatch, Offshore Oil and Gas Industry.

BEHAVIOUR OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS

The laminated composite panels are high strength material so thickness requirement is less as compare to
conventional material. There are two major categories leading failure of a component: material failure and
structural instability, which is often called buckling. The load at which buckling occurs depends on the
stiffness of the components, not upon strength of its material. Buckling refers to the loss of stability of
components and independent of material strength. This loss of stability usually occurs in elastic rang of
material. Buckling failure is primarily characterized by loss of structural stiffness and is not modeled by the
usual linear finite element analysis, but by eigenvalue solution. Slender or thin walled component under
compressive stress are susceptible to buckling. Laminated composited stiffened panels are thin walled
structure so buckling is a major problem in its design.

Stiffened panels in real structures can be loaded under a combination of in-plane and out-plane loading. In
plane loads include in-plane compression, in-plane shear and a combination of these loadings. Out-of-plane
loading would include lateral pressure or bending about the transverse and longitudinal axes of the stiffened
panel. Generally these plates are flexible when the loads are applied normal to the plane of the plate but it is
very stiff when the loads are applied in the plane. It is this in-plane high stiffness which is utilized in thin-
walled structures. The relatively high out of plate flexibility of the plate element make these elements more
susceptible to the buckling under in-plane compression and in-plane shear. The buckling behaviour of
stiffened panels is more complex when compared to unstiffened panels.
Civil Engineering Conference Innovation Without Limit (CEC-09), September 18-19, 2009, NIT Hamirpur, pp. 89-96.

Stiffened panels when subjected to these in-plane loading may buckle in local mode or global (general
instability) mode. Stiffened panels are said to buckle locally when the plate between the stiffeners buckle.
This termed as plate buckling. This mode of failure illustrated in Fig.9. Researchers reported that this failure
result in more significant drop in load-carrying capacity after buckling then the overall buckling failure
modes.

On the other hand, stiffened panel is said to buckle globally when the stiffener and the plate buckle
simultaneously in such way that the half sign wave extends over more than one plate element between the
stiffeners (Fig.10). Generally this failure is the most favourable mode of failure since it behaves in a more
stable manner after buckling.

Fig.9.Local mode of buckling

Fig.10.Global mode of buckling

CONCLUSIONS

Laminated composite stiffened panels are used throughout the civil, marine and aerospace industry for
numerous structure applications. Light weight composite stiffened panels may be utilized with great
advantage in bridge decks as well as structural component of buildings. The technological advances in
composite stiffened panels and new understanding of how panels behave under load have been crucial in the
development for the structural application. It is essential to fully understand how these panels behave,
because only that way we can built stronger and lighter structural components. Stiffened panel are relatively
new material so no design codes, guidelines or specifications are available for the uses in structural
application. There is need to develop data base which will be helpful to new designs.

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