Buckling measurement and numerical analysis of M-type ribs stiffened composite panel

•Fringe projection profilometry was used to measure full-field height topography of M-type ribs stiffened composite panel.•Deflection evolvement information from height topography reveals the buckling behaviors of the composite panel.•Finite element method was used to predict buckling shapes and compared with the optical experiments.

A combination of methods of strategy which combines optical measurements and numerical calculations was developed to study the buckling behavior and failure modes of composite panel with M-type stiffeners under compression. Utilizing the non-contact optical means for non-destructive testing, the full-field buckling deflections/evolution and compressive failure of the panel surface were systematically collected for mechanical analysis. Based on continuum mechanics modeling, the buckling and post-buckling behaviors of the composite panel were predicted and compared with the buckling shapes that are obtained from experiments. The numerical simulation methods and experimental test technique in the work provides a useful tool to study the compressive buckling behaviors of composite panel with M-type stiffeners.