Mode Jumping of an Isogrid Panel under Quasi-static Compression

A wide column test of a composite isogrid panel subjected to quasi-static, axial compression is modeled with a hybrid-static dynamic computational method. The data from the test panel exhibited discontinuous responses in the compressive load for slowly increased end-shortening. The computational model was developed to corroborate these discontinuities with the phenomenon of mode jumping. Mode jumping refers to the transient response of the panel from an unstable bifurcation point on a postbuckled equilibrium path to a second stable equilibrium state on a new equilibrium path. On the new equilibrium path, both the analysis and test show that the panel can resist increased endshortening beyond that of the unstable critical point. Fair agreement is achieved between the analysis and test.