• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.621-631
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• 2018

In this paper, an exact analytical solution is developed for the analysis of the post-buckling non-linear response of simply supported deformable symmetric composite beams. For this, a new theory of higher order shear deformation is used for the analysis of composite beams in post-buckling. Unlike any other shear deformation beam theories, the number of functions unknown in the present theory is only two as the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, while three unknowns are needed in the case of the other beam theories. The theory presents a parabolic distribution of transverse shear stresses, which satisfies the nullity conditions on both sides of the beam without a shear correction factor. The shear effect has a significant contribution to buckling and post-buckling behaviour. The results of this analysis show that classical and first-order theories underestimate the amplitude of the buckling whereas all the theories considered in this study give results very close to the static response of post-buckling. The numerical results obtained with the novel theory are not only much more accurate than those obtained using the Euler-Bernoulli theory but are almost comparable to those obtained using higher order theories, Accuracy and effectiveness of the current theory.