Nonlinear Analysis of Stiffened Laminated Composite Thin-Wall Structures Using SHELL181 Elements in ANSYS

Abstract This paper investigates the nonlinear static behavior of stiffened laminated composite plates using finite element analysis (FEA). The analysis is conducted using the SHELL181 element in ANSYS, which is well-suited for modeling the complex geometries and material properties of composite structures. The study includes detailed modeling of the laminated composite plates with orthogonal stiffeners and examines the impact of various parameters on their structural behavior under static loads. A nonlinear analysis is conducted to capture the complex behavior of the stiffened plates, taking into consideration geometric nonlinearity. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the finite element approach in accurately predicting the behavior of stiffened composite plates. The findings are validated against established results, showing good agreement and confirming the reliability of the SHELL181 element for such analyses. This research provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of stiffened laminated composite structures in engineering applications.