Numerical Buckling Analysis of Cracked Graphene-Reinforced Cylindrical Structures using a Phase-Field Crack Formulation

This study presents a numerical investigation of the buckling load of a cracked cylindrical panel reinforced with graphene platelets (GPLs).An effective phase-field crack model was incorporated into the framework of the 2-D natural element method (NEM) to accurately evaluate the buckling loads of graphene-reinforced panels.Graphene platelets were introduced into a cracked cylindrical panel according to a prescribed functional distribution pattern throughout the thickness.Conventional crack node separation methods for representing cracks are not only difficult but also prone to numerical inaccuracy and instability.To overcome this limitation, the proposed phase-field model represents crack initiation using a phase-field value without grid manipulation.The numerical stability of the developed crack model was verified through a convergence test with respect to the grid density and comparison with a reference solution.A detailed parametric study was then conducted to examine the influence of key parameters on the buckling load characteristics.