1

TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

Dr. S. Guo

Nov. 2009


Question 04-13.1
Determine the transverse modulus E2 of a carbon/epoxy composite ply using the
micromechanics and the Halpin-Tsai approach with x
1
=1 respectively. The material
properties are given as follows:
E
2f
=14.8 GPa; E
m
=3.45 GPa; v
m
=0.36; V
f
=0.65

Answers: E
2
=7.56 GPa (or 6.88 if ignoring v
m
); E
2
=8.13 GPa



Question 04-13.2
Determine the in-plane shear modulus G
12
of a glass/epoxy composite ply using the
micromechanics and the Halpin-Tsai approach with x
2
=1 respectively. The material
properties are given as follows:
G
f
=28.3 GPa; G
m
=1270 MPa; V
f
=0.55

Answers: G
12
=2.68 GPa; G
12
=3.84 GPa



Question 04-13.3
Plot a curve for the ratio E
2
/ E
m
against V
f
=0 ~ 1 for one of the following composite
ply using the Halpin-Tsai approach with x
1
=1.

material Boron
/epoxy
E-glass
/epoxy
Boron
/aliminum
SiC/aluminium Carbon/epoxy Kevlar
/epoxy

E
2f
/ E
m
120 20 6 5 4.3 2



Question 04-13.4
Plot a curve for the ratio G
12
/ G
m
against V
f
=0 ~ 1 for one of the following composite
ply using the Halpin-Tsai approach with x
2
=1.

material Boron
/epoxy
E-glass
/epoxy
Boron
/aliminum
SiC/aluminium Carbon/epoxy Kevlar
/epoxy

G
12f
/ G
m
130 23 6.4 5.5 22 16



2
Question 04-14.1

Determine the longitudinal modulus E
1
and tensile strength X
t
of a unidirectional solicon
cardide/ceramic composite with the following properties:
V
f
=0.4 E
f
=172 GPa; E
m
=97 GPa; f
ft
=1930 MPa; f
mt
=138 MPa

Answers: E
1
=127 GPa; X
t
=1425.1 MPa -- Eq(14.1); X
t
=180.7 MPa -- Eq(14.2)



Question 04-14.2
Determine the longitudinal modulus E
1
and tensile strength X
t
for a unidirectional E-
glass/ epoxy composite with the following properties:
V
f
=0.65 E
f
=69 GPa; E
m
=3.45 GPa; f
ft
=3450 MPa; f
mt
=104 MPa

Answers: E
1
= 46.06 GPa; X
t
= 2303 MPa -- Eq(14.1); X
t
= 1388 MPa -- Eq(14.2)




Question 04-16.1
For a graphite/epoxy unidirectional lamina of properties E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3 GPa,
v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa, determine
1. the compliance matrix;
2. minor Poissons ratio v
21
;
3. reduced stiffness matrix;
4. strains in the 1-2 coordinate system if the applied
stresses are f
1
=2 MPa, f
2
= -3 MPa, f
12
= 4 MPa

(hint: 1. Apply Eq(16.3); 2. use Eq(16.4);
3. use Eq(16.1); 4. use Eq(16.6))



Question 04-17.1
For a 60
o
angle graphite/epoxy unidirectional lamina of properties E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3
GPa, v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa, determine
1. the transformed compliance matrix;
2. transformed reduced stiffness matrix;
If the applied stress is f
x
=2 MPa, f
y
= -3 MPa,
f
xy
= 4 MPa,
also find
3. Global strains (in x-y-axis);
4. Local strains and stress (in 1-2-axis);


(Answers: 3. e
x
=0.5534 x 10
-4
, e
y
= -0.3078 x 10
-3
, e
xy
= 0.5328 x 10
-3
,
4. e
1
=0.1367 x 10
-4
, e
2
= -0.2662 x 10
-3
, e
12
= -0.5809 x 10
-3

5. f
1
=1.714 MPa, f
2
= -2.714 MPa, f
12
= -4.165 MPa

f
1
=2 MPa
F
2
= -3 MPa
f
12
=4 MPa
f
1
=2 MPa
F
2
= -3 MPa
f
12
=4 MPa
f
1
=2 MPa
F
2
= -3 MPa
f
12
=4 MPa
f
1
=2 MPa
F
2
= -3 MPa
f
12
=4 MPa
3

Question 04-18.1
Find the Eng constants for a 60
o
angle graphite/epoxy unidirectional lamina of properties
E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3 GPa, v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa


(Answers:
E
x
= 12.42 GPa, v
xy
= 0.09783, m
x
= 5.854; E
y
= 28.78 GPa, m
y
= 8.5, G
xy
= 8.761 GPa)



Question 04-19.1
Determine the maximum value of F>0 when a stress f
x
= 2F, f
y
= -3F and f
xy
= 4F MPa is
applied to a 60
o
angle graphite/epoxy unidirectional lamina. Use the maximum stress,
maximum strain and Tsai-Hill failure theory respectively. The properties of the lamina
are given below:
E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3 GPa, v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa
X
t
=1500 MPa, X
c
=1500 MPa, Y
t
= 40 MPa, Y
c
= 246 Mpa, S

= 68 Mpa
Use e
xt
= X
t
/ E
1
; e
xc
= X
c
/ E
1
; e
yt
= Y
t
/ E
2
; e
yc
= Y
c
/ E
2
; e
s
= S

/ G
12
;

(Answers: 0< F <16.33, F< 10.94 )




Question 04-20.1
Determine the stiffness matrices [A], [B], [D] for a three-ply [-45/30/0] graphite/epoxy
laminate of properties E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3 GPa, v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa. Each ply
thickness is 5 mm.

5 mm
0
o
30
o
-45
o
5 mm
5 mm
5 mm
0
o
30
o
-45
o
5 mm
5 mm



Answers:

m GPa A
(
(
(

=
453 . 0 114 . 0 057 . 0
114 . 0 453 . 0 388 . 0
057 . 0 388 . 0 739 . 1
] [

2
985 . 0 072 . 1 072 . 1
072 . 1 158 . 1 985 . 0
072 . 1 985 . 0 129 . 3
] [ m MPa B
(
(
(

=



3
663 . 7 596 . 5 240 . 5
596 . 5 320 . 9 461 . 6
240 . 5 461 . 6 43 . 33
] [ m kPa D
(
(
(

=



4
Question 04-20.2
For the three-ply [-45/30/0] carbon /epoxy laminate, the material strength of the ply is
given as Xt = 1370 MPa, Xc = 1000 MPa, Yt = 42 MPa, Yc=200 MPa, S=60 MPa.
Based on the [A], [B], [D] for the laminate obtained in Q20.1,
a) determine the compliance matrices [a], [b], [d]
b) determine the strain {e} of the laminate (mid-plane plus curvature)
c) given a load Nx = 500 kN/m, Ny=500 kN/m, Nxy=50 kN/m, Mx=My=Mxy=0,
determine the strain e1, e2, e12 and stress f1, f2, f12 in the 0
o
ply
d) determine the F.I. for the 0
o
ply


5 mm
0
o
30
o
-45
o
5 mm
5 mm
5 mm
0
o
30
o
-45
o
5 mm
5 mm



Answers:
************** THE COMPLIANCE MATRIX [abd] ***************

0.1297E-08 -0.9843E-09 -0.6039E-09 0.1777E-06 -0.1098E-06 0.1627E-06
-0.9843E-09 0.4476E-08 -0.1559E-09 -0.1480E-06 -0.2187E-06 0.2474E-06
-0.6039E-09 -0.1559E-09 0.3712E-08 -0.5488E-07 0.3119E-06 -0.3934E-06
0.1777E-06 -0.1480E-06 -0.5488E-07 0.5967E-04 -0.3000E-04 0.3011E-04
-0.1098E-06 -0.2187E-06 0.3119E-06 -0.3000E-04 0.2471E-03 0.7388E-04
0.1627E-06 0.2474E-06 -0.3934E-06 0.3011E-04 0.7388E-04 0.3130E-03

Strain {e}={eo}-z{k} in X, Y & XY in each layer (z-coordinate is measured from mid-plane of the layer)
0.1865E-03 0.9948E-03 0.7327E-03
0.1260E-03 0.1738E-02 -0.1943E-03
0.6539E-04 0.2481E-02 -0.1121E-02

********** THE STRESS IN EACH LAYER ************
PLY-NO S1 S2 t12
1 0.4355E+08 0.1055E+08 -0.5795E+07
2 0.8499E+08 0.1597E+08 0.9314E+07
3 0.1908E+08 0.2586E+08 -0.8040E+07

Max FI from Max Stress Criterion in 1, 2 & 1-2: 0.0620 0.6158 0.1552 in the layers: 2 3 2














5
Question 04-21.1
Determine the in-plane (membrane) and flexural (bending) Eng elastic constants for a
three-ply [0/90]
s
graphite/epoxy laminate of properties E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3 GPa,
v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa. Each ply thickness is 5 mm.








(Answers:
in-plane: E
x
=124.5 GPa, E
y
=67.43 GPa, G
xy
=7.17 GPa, v
xy
=0.04292, v
yx
=0.02323;
bending: E
x
=175.0 GPa, E
y
=16.65 GPa, G
xy
=7.17 GPa, v
xy
=0.1735, v
yx
=0.01651 )





Question 04-22.1
A three-ply [-45/30/0] graphite/epoxy laminate of ply thickness 5 mm is subjected to a
load of N
x
= N
y
=1000 N/m. The properties of the laminate are E
1
=181 GPa, E
2
=10.3
GPa, v
12
=0.28, G
12
=7.17 GPa and strength X
t
=1500 MPa, X
c
=1500 MPa, Y
t
= 40 MPa,
Y
c
= 246 MPa, S=68 MPa.
Determine
1. Mid-pane strains and curvature;
2. Global and local stresses on upper surface of 30
o
ply;
3. Percentage of load N
x
taken by each ply;
4. F.I. of each ply of the laminate (choose any two of the criteria to compare)


5 mm
0
o
30
o
-45
o
5 mm
5 mm
5 mm
0
o
30
o
-45
o
5 mm
5 mm



Answers:
1. e
x
o
=3.123 x 10
-7
(m/m); e
y
o
=3.492 x 10
-6
(m/m); e
xy
o
= -7.598 x 10
-7
(m/m);
k
x
=2.971 x 10
-5
(1/m); k
y
= -3.285 x 10
-4
(1/m); k
xy
= 4.101 x 10
-4
(1/m);
2. f
x
=6.930 x 10
4
(Pa); f
y
=7.391 x 10
4
(Pa); f
xy
= 3.381 x 10
4
(Pa);
f
1
=9.973 x 10
4
(Pa); f
2
=4.348 x 10
4
(Pa); f
12
= 1.890 x 10
4
(Pa);
3. Percentage of N
x
taken by 0
o
ply =22.32 %, by 30
o
ply = 53.15 %,
by -45
o
ply =24.52%





5 mm
5 mm
5 mm
0
o
0
o
90
o
5 mm
5 mm
5 mm
0
o
0
o
90
o
6
Question 04-29.1

Determine the axial forces carried in the elements of a C-section subjected to a B.M. of
M
x
=1 x 10
6
Nmm. The extensional and bending compliance matrices for the flanges are











The extensional and bending compliance matrices for the web are







Answers:

Flange E
z
= 1 / t a
11
= 1/ 1x0.0185 = 54.05 x 10
3
N/mm
2

I
xx
= A y
2
= 1 x 100 x 100
2
= 10
6
mm
4
= 10
-6
m
4


Web E
z
= 1 / t a
11
= 1/ 0.5x0.1127 = 17.75 x 10
3
N/mm
2

I
xx
= b h
3
/12 = 0.5 x 200
3
/ 12 = 0.333 x 10
6
mm
4
= 0.333 x 10
-6
m
4


I
xx
= ( E
z
I
xx
) = 2 x54.05x10
9
x10
-6
+ 17.75x10
9
x 0.333x10
-6
mm
4
= 114.02x10
3
Nm
2


Since I
xy
= 0, M
y
= 0 and M
x
= M
x
= 10
3
Nm

Flange: f
z
= E
z
(M
x
Y / I
xx
) = 54.05 x10
9
x (10
3
x 0.1 / 114.02 x 10
3
) = 47.4 MPa

Force P
z
= f
z
(10
-3
x 0.1) = 4.74 kN

Web: f
z
= E
z
(M
x
Y / I
xx
) = 17.75 x10
9
x (10
3
Y / 114.02 x10
3
) = 155.67 Y MPa

The web force intensity varies linearly from N
z
= f
z
x 0.1 x 0.5 x 10
-3
= 7.78 kN/m at the
top and to zero at the middle and then 7.78 kN/m at the bottom of the web. The force
at any point of the web is P
z
= N
z
dY.

(Double Check Internal
}
+ =

1 . 0
0
2 3 6 3
10 5 . 0 10 67 . 155 2 2 . 0 10 74 . 4 dY Y M
x

= 0.948 x10
3
+ 2 x 77.83 x10
3
x 1/3 (0.1)
3

= 0.948 x10
3
+ 51.9 x10
3
x10
-3
= 999.9 Nm ~ 1000 Nm )
kN mm A a /
0483 . 0 0 0
0 0185 . 0 0058 . 0
0 0058 . 0 0185 . 0
] [ ] [
1
(
(
(

= =

mm kN D d
(
(
(

= =

/ 1
7376 . 0 1598 . 0 0199 . 0
1598 . 0 5396 . 0 0759 . 0
0199 . 0 0759 . 0 0336 . 0
] [ ] [
1
kN mm A /
0549 . 0 0 0
0 1127 . 0 0873 . 0
0 0873 . 0 1127 . 0
1
(
(
(

mm kN D
(
(
(

/ 1
59 . 4 43 . 1 43 . 1
43 . 1 87 . 5 75 . 3
43 . 1 75 . 3 87 . 5
1
100 mm
200 x
z
y
Web lay-up
[45/-45]s
Flange lay-up
[0/45/-45/90]s
Flange t =1 mm
Web t =0.5 mm
M
x
100 mm
200 x
z
y
Web lay-up
[45/-45]s
Flange lay-up
[0/45/-45/90]s
Flange t =1 mm
Web t =0.5 mm
M
x
7

Question 04-30.1

A symmetric rectangular box section is
subjected to a shear force Sy= 10 kN
acting through the shear centre of the
section. The lay-up of the flanges is
[0/45/-45/90]s and the properties are:
equivalent membrane E
x
=54.1 kN/mm
2
,
t =1 mm and the lay-up and properties
for the webs are [45/-45]s and
E
x
=17.7 kN/mm
2
, t =0.5 mm.
Determine the shear flow distribution
in the wall of the section.



Answers:
I
xx
= 1.37 x 10
4
Nm
2
,
basic shear flows: q
12
= -0.987 x 10
6
S
1
(S
1
=0, q
12
=0; S
1
=0.1, q
12
= -9.87 x 10
4
N/m);
q
23
= -16.15 x 10
4
S
2
+ 3.23 x 10
6
S
2
2
- 9.87 x 10
4

(S
2
=0: q
23
=-9.87 x 10
4
; S
2
=2.5 x 10
-2
m: q
23
= -10.07 x 10
4
N/m;
S
2
=5 x 10
-2
m: q
23
= -9.87 x 10
4
N/m);
q
34
= (-54.1 x 10
9
x 10
4
/ 1.37 x 10
4
)(-2.5 x 10
-2
) x 10
-3
S
3
- 9.87 x 10
4

(S
3
=0: q
34
= -9.87 x 10
4
N/m; S
3
=0.1 m: q
34
= 0)

The rest of walls have symmetrical distribution but positive sign.
Since the S
y
is acting at the centre of the symmetrical section where cut has been made
and there is no external torque, q
o
= 0. Hence the final shear flow remains the same as
the basic shear flow.















(check: internal horizontal force Px=0; Transverse Py = 2 x10 x 10
4
x 50 x 10
-3
=10 kN)



1
2
4
3
S
y
=10 kN
200 mm
50 mm
X
Y
Z
x
y
x
y
1
2
4
3
S
y
=10 kN
200 mm
50 mm
X
Y
Z
x
y
x
y
-9.87x10
4
-9.87x10
4
-10.07x10
4
9.87x10
4
9.87x10
4
10.07x10
4
+
+
+
1 2
3
4
5
6
8

Question 04-31.1

Determine the maximum shear stress and
twist angle of a 1 m long laminated C-section
beam subject to a torque T=1 kNmm.
The property of the laminate is G
xy
=20.9 GPa.



(Answer: GJ=3.5 x 105 Nmm
2
; u = 2.9 rad, f
xy
= 30 MPa)






Question 04-31.2

A symmetric rectangular section box beam
fixed at one end and free at the other is
subjected to a torque = 10 Nm. The layup
of the top and bottom walls is [0/45/-45/90]s
and the properties are: equivalent membrane
E
x
=54.1 kN/mm
2
, G
xy
=20.7 kN/mm
2
t =1 mm.
The layup and properties for the webs are
[45/-45]s and E
x
=17.7 kN/mm
2
, t =0.5 mm
and G
xy
=36.4 kN/mm
2
.
Determine the shear flow distribution in the
wall of the section and the maximum twist angle.


Answers:
Shear flow q = T / 2A
m
= 10000 / 2x50x200 = 0.5 N/mm

Top and bottom walls: a
33
= 1/t G
xy
= 1/ 20.7x10
3
= 0.483 x 10
-4
mm/N
Webs: a
33
= 1/t G
xy
= 1/ 0.5x36.4x10
3
= 0.55 x 10
-4
mm/N

Sectional
) 10 55 . 0 2 10 483 . 0 2 /( 4
4
200
0
50
0
4 2
ds ds A J G
m

} }
+ =

=4x(50 x 200)
2
/(2 x 0.483 x 10
-4
x 200 + 2 x 0.55 x 10
-4
x 50)
=4 x 10
8
/ (0.0193 + 0.0055) = 161.3 x 10
8
= 16.13 x 10
9
Nmm
2


6 9
10 62 . 0 10 13 . 16 / 10000 / /

= = = J G T dz du


(deg) 0355 . 0 ) ( 10 62 . 0 10 62 . 0
3 6
= = =

rad L u





100 mm
200 x
z
y
flange
and web
t =0.5 mm
T
100 mm
200 x
z
y
flange
and web
t =0.5 mm
T
1
2
4
3
T =10 Nm
200 mm
50 mm
X
Y
Z
x
y
x
y
1
2
4
3
T =10 Nm
200 mm
50 mm
X
Y
Z
x
y
x
y
9

Question 04-31.3

A thin-walled box beam of length L=1 m
with the cross section shown is made of
graphite epoxy with lay-up [45
2
/0
12
/45
2
].
The material properties are E
1
=148 GPa,
E
2
= 9.65 GPa, G
12
= 4.55 GPa, v
12
= 0.3,
ply thickness t =0.1 mm. G
xy
= 18.0 GPa,
The beam, built in at one end and free at
another, is subjected to a torque T = 500 Nm
acting at the free end. Determine the
maximum twist angle and the q.




Answers:
Shear flow q = T / 2A
m
= 500x10
3
/ 2x50x70 = 71.23 N/mm

For all walls: a
33
= 1/t G
xy
= 1/ 2 x 18.0x10
3
= 27.77 x 10
-6
mm/N
Sectional
) 10 77 . 27 2 10 77 . 27 2 /( 4
6
50
0
70
0
6 2
ds ds A J G
m

} }
+ =

=4x(50 x 70)
2
/(2 x 27.77 x 10
-6
x 50 + 2 x 27.77 x 10
-6
x 70)
=4 x 1.225x10
7
/ (2.777 + 3.888) x 10
-3
= 7.352 x 10
9
Nmm
2


) / ( 10 68 . 0 10 352 . 7 / 10 500 / /
4 9 3
m rad J G T dz d

= = = u



(deg) 95 . 1 ) ( 10 68 . 0 10 68 . 0
1 4
= = =

rad L u





















x
y
50 mm
70 mm
2 mm
T
x
y
50 mm
70 mm
2 mm
T
10

Question 04-25.1
Determine the buckling load N
bx
of a laminated plate simply-supported along all edges
when subjected to the following load conditions. The plate dimensions are a=273.6 mm,
b=100 mm and its bending stiffness matrix is

(a) a uniaxial load
(b) a biaxial load with a tensile load
N
y
=100 N/m ;
(c) a shear load Nxy in addition to
the uniaxial load with a of ratio 0.7:1


Answers:
(a) From ESDU 80023 Table 3.1, use Fig.1
414 . 1 517 . 0 736 . 2 )
468 . 1
1048 . 0
(
100
6 . 273
) (
4 / 1 4 / 1
11
22
= = =
D
D
b
a
From Fig.1 curve C=2, Ko=24.5

m N
C
N
bx
/ 1229 ) 68 . 2 61 . 9 ( 10
01 . 0
) 0152 . 0 2 0315 . 0 (
01 . 0
) 1048 . 0 468 . 1 ( 5 . 24
2
2 2 / 1
= + =
+
+

=
t

(b) Use Fig.2 according to Table 3.1
54 . 9
1048 . 0
10 100
2
22
2
=

=

D
b N
by

From Fig.2, Ko=6
m N N
by
/ 0 . 503 ) 68 . 2 35 . 2 ( 10
2
= + =




Question 04-25.2
Determine the buckling load N
bx
of a laminated plate simply-supported along all edges
when subjected to biaxial loadings with N
y
= - 410 N/m. The plate dimensions are a=225
mm, b=173 mm and its bending stiffness matrix is
















Nm D
(
(
(

=
0521 . 0 0 0
0 1048 . 0 0315 . 0
0 0315 . 0 468 . 1
Nm D
(
(
(

=
42 . 1 0 0
0 645 . 0 29 . 1
0 29 . 1 64 . 7