Analysis of buckling load of glass fiber/epoxy-reinforced plywood and its temperature dependence

Abstract

There has been an increase in the use of fiber-reinforced composite materials in many areas. In particular, glass-fiber-reinforced composites have gained in popularity owing to their low cost, high-strength properties, durability, ease of repair, and being simple to form. This paper analyzes the buckling load for the glass-fiber-reinforced plywood specifically used for the liquid natural gas cargo tank and carriers, especially the No 96 cargo containment system insulation box. The buckling load of the plywood reinforced with glass fiber composite on both outer surfaces was estimated with various composite thicknesses and compared with the buckling load of unreinforced plywood. The buckling load was also evaluated at various temperatures to verify the temperature dependence of the buckling load. A much higher buckling load for the glass fiber/epoxy-reinforced plywood was obtained as the number of glass fiber/epoxy prepreg composite was increased. However, the rate of increase in the buckling load decreased as the temperature decreased and as the number of glass fiber/epoxy prepreg composite increased.