Abstract: To verify the application potential of the variable stiffness design based on tow curve laying in improving the buckling behavior of typical aerospace structures, variable stiffness composite plates and open-hole plates were designed and manufactured. Through the strain gauge and the non-contact 3D optical measurement system, the out-of-plane displacement and load direction strain of the specimens under uniaxial compressive load were comprehensively measured. The experimental results show that the buckling loads of the variable stiffness plates and open-hole plates are increased by 53.4% and 46.6%, respectively, compared with the same configuration of the linear lay-up specimens; The mechanical responses of the specimens are similar, the stiffness is greatly reduced after linear loading to the buckling load, and the post-buckling stage of the variable stiffness specimens is approximately linear, while the linear lay-up specimens vary continuously. The numerical model was refined according to the experimental scheme, and the calculated results of buckling load, out-of-plane displacement and strain are basically consistent with the experimental results. On this basis, the stiffness distribution and load distribution of load section in the numerical models were extracted, and the anti-buckling mechanism of the variable stiffness design was clarified. For the specimens in this paper, the variable stiffness design can also significantly increase the failure load, reduce the side load and relieve the stress concentration.