Parallel folding in multilayered structures

A recent two-layer nonlinear model for parallel folding is extended to a full multilayer formulation for nn identical layers. The general behaviour of the multilayer is characterized using a sinusoidal Galerkin approximation substituted into the linearized potential energy function and equations for the wavelength and critical load are found. Comparisons with experiments conducted on layers of paper constrained between two sheets of foam rubber show that the trend of the load–amplitude plots is in good agreement with that predicted. Excellent correlation is also achieved between the wavelengths calculated by the linearized buckling analysis and those seen experimentally.