Stress analysis of non-uniform guided composite structures of hybrid laminates

Abstract

The present research addresses a new computational study for the analysis of the elastic field of both uniform as well as non-uniform guided structures of hybrid laminated composites. Laminates composed of different ply materials of dissimilar fiber orientations are considered for the present analysis. A displacement potential based elasticity approach is used for the laminate, where the relevant displacement components of plane elasticity are expressed in terms of a single scalar function. The finite difference method is used to develop the single variable computational scheme, which is capable of dealing with different ply materials as well as different fiber orientations efficiently. The scheme is developed in such a way that it can handle geometrical non-uniformity as well as mixed mode of physical conditions at the surfaces of laminated structures. The application of the computational scheme is demonstrated for a number of uniform and non-uniform structural components, like beams and columns of hybrid laminated composites. Balanced laminates composed of two different fiber reinforced composite plies with various fiber orientations are considered for the non-uniform eccentrically loaded column. On the other hand, laminates composed of fiber reinforced composite plies and soft isotropic plies are considered for the non-uniform sinking beam problem. The corresponding elastic fields of the overall laminate as well as individual plies are analyzed mainly in the prospective of laminate hybridization. Both the fiber materials and fiber orientation angles as well as geometrical aspect ratio of the structural components are identified to play dominant roles in defining the design stresses of the laminated structures. Finally, in an attempt to verify the appropriateness as well as accuracy of the present computational scheme, the present potential function solutions are compared with available solutions obtained by standard computational method as well as those found in the literature.