Volume 2 - Issue 2, March - April 2026

One significant barrier to the widespread use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials in civil and offshore applications is the absence of universally applicable design criteria for composite structures. This issue is particularly pronounced in the context of predicting the buckling strength of composite shell structures, where designers face numerous challenges and often resort to high safety factors, thereby diminishing overall structural efficiency. Key parameters in buckling design include fiber orientations and the radius-to-thickness ratio. A crucial aspect of designing for buckling involves examining the impact of initial geometric imperfections. Both eigenvalue and incremental analyses are employed in this study, with the latter accounting for the shape and amplitude of initial geometric imperfections. These analyses help in estimating the imperfection sensitivity of CFRP curved panels. The results from these analyses are used to develop ‘knockdown’ factors, which are essential for design purposes. These factors provide a more accurate and reliable means of accounting for the imperfections in the material and structure, allowing for better prediction and enhancement of the buckling resistance. Consequently, this leads to more efficient and safe design practices for CFRP structures. By addressing the sensitivity to imperfections and providing reliable knockdown factors, this study contributes to overcoming some of the key challenges in using CFRP materials.

Saud Ur Rehman Chaudhary, Hamza Rehman Kharal, Saeed Hamza, MD Bappi Islam, "A Review of Buckling Behavior of CFRP Panels Using Finite Element Method" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(2): Page(132-140) Mar-Apr 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.