Buckling of laminated composite skew plate using FEM and machine learning methods Bharat Bhushan Mishra, Ajay Kumar, Pijush Samui and Thendiyath Roshni Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, India Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to attempt the buckling analysis of a laminated composite skew plate using the C 0 finite element (FE) model based on higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT) in conjunction with minimax probability machine regression (MPMR) and multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS). Design/methodology/approach – HSDT considers the third-order variation of in-plane displacements which eliminates the use of shear correction factor owing to realistic parabolic transverse shear stresses across the thickness coordinate. At the top and bottom of the plate, zero transverse shear stress condition is imposed. C 0 FE model based on HSDT is developed and coded in formula translation (FORTRAN). FE model is validated and found efficient to create new results. MPMR and MARS models are coded in MATLAB. Using skew angle (a), stacking sequence (Ai) and buckling strength (Y) as input parameters, a regression problem is formulated using MPMR and MARS to predict the buckling strength of laminated composite skew plates. Findings – The results of the MPMR and MARS models are in good agreement with the FE model result. MPMR is a better tool than MARS to analyze the buckling problem. Research limitations/implications – The present work considers the linear behavior of the laminated composite skew plate. Originality/value – To the authors’ best of knowledge, there is no work in the literature on the buckling analysis of a laminated composite skew plate using C 0 FE formulation based on third-order shear deformation theory in conjunction with MPMR and MARS. These machine-learning techniques increase efficiency, reduce the computational time and reduce the cost of analysis. Further, an equation is generated with the MARS model via which the buckling strength of the laminated composite skew plate can be predicted with ease and simplicity. Keywords FEM, Regression, Buckling, Composite laminate, MARS, MPMR, Skew Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction A significant application of the laminated composite plate in engineering has made it a popular research subject so that optimum performance could be achieved. The laminated composite plate has wide applications in civil, aerospace, automobile and marine works. Composite materials generally made up of two or more constituents material termed as matrix and fibers. These materials are physically and chemically different from each other. In composite material, fibers perform the role of stiffener supported by matrix and appear as a main load-bearing component. Together they enhance the mechanical properties of the composite material. Various advantages of the laminated composite plate are its high fatigue life, high strength to weight ratio, high stiffness, corrosion-resistant characteristics, damp-resistant characteristics and good directional properties. Laminated composite plates consist of several laminae. Each Laminated composite skew plate Received 1 August 2019 Revised 1 May 2020 1 June 2020 Accepted 3 June 2020 Engineering Computations © Emerald Publishing Limited 0264-4401 DOI 10.1108/EC-08-2019-0346 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/0264-4401.htm