Analysis of Laminates

Two approaches:
Simplified theory of laminated beams in
pure flexure
Classical lamination theory (CLT) for
laminates with coupling
In both cases, need laminate orientation
code to describe lamina orientations and
stacking sequences.

Laminate Orientation Code (AFML)

1. Each lamina denoted by a number representing its
orientation in degrees between its filament direction
and the reference axis.
2. Individual adjacent laminae are separated in the code
by a slash, if their angles are different.
3. The laminae are listed in sequence from one laminate
face to the other, with brackets indicating beginning
and end of code.
4. Adjacent laminae of the same angle are denoted by
numerical subscripts.
5. A subscript T (or no subscript) after the bracket
indicates the total laminate is shown; subscripts S
means only half the symmetric laminate is shown.

Ex:

Laminate
45
0
90
90
30

Code
[45/0/902/30]T
or
[45/0/902/30]

Adjacent laminae of same angle but opposite sign

45
-45
-30
30
0

[ 45/ m 30/0]T
or
[ 45/ m 30/0]

Symmetric Even
90
0
0
45
45
0
0
90

Sym

[90/02/45]S

Symmetric Odd (center lamina overlined)

0
45
90
45
0

Sym

[0 / 45 / 9 0]
S

Laminated Beams in Pure Flexure

Based on Bernoulli Euler beam theory (Pagano, 1967)
Assumptions:
a. Plane sections normal to longitudinal axis remain
plane during flexure.
b. Beam has geometric and material property
symmetry about neutral surface.
c. Each ply is linearly elastic with no shear coupling
(i.e., either 0 or 90)
d. Plies perfectly bonded together (no slip at ply
interfaces.)
e. x 0, xz 0; all other stresses ignored.

Cantilevered laminated beam under a

concentrated tip load

EfIyy

P
x

An Element of a Laminated Beam Before and

After the Application of a Bending Moment

Before Deformation

After Flexural Deformation

Longitudinal strain at a distance z from neutral

surface
( + z ) = z
(7.1)
x =

From Hookes law for jth ply,

( x ) j = (E x ) j ( x ) j

(7.2)

Substituting (7.1) in (7.2),

( x ) j = (E x ) j

(7.3)

Static equilibrium:
h2
M = 2 x zbdz

(7.4)

Substituting (7.3) in (7.4),

2b N 2
(E x ) j z 3j z 3j 1
M=

3 j =1

(7.5)

For even number of plies, N, with same thickness h/N

2bh 3 N 2
(E x ) j 3 j 2 3 j + 1
M=
3
3 N j =1

(7.6)

where zj = jh/N for even N

(for odd N, divide each ply in half)

Recall that, for homogeneous, isotropic beam,

the moment curvature equation is,

M=
where

E f I yy

E f bh 3

(7.7)

12

bh 3
I yy = z dA =
12
2

Combining (7.5) and (7.7), the flexural

modulus, Ef, is

8 N2
E f = 3 (E x ) j z 3j z 3j 1
h j =1

(7.8)

or, for even no. of plies, N, with same thickness h/N

8 N2
E f = 3 (E x ) j 3 j 2 3 j + 1
N j =1

(7.9)

so, Ef depends on ply stacking

sequence, unlike E for
homogeneous, isotropic beam.

Ex. 7.1: Determine Ef and Ex for [0/90/0]S and [90/0/90]S

beams. Use E1 = 5 x 106 psi, E2 = 1.5 x 106 psi and
uniform ply thickness.
Flexural Modulus: [0/90/0]S

8 N2
E f = 3 (E x ) j z 3j z 3j 1
h j =1

8 N2
E f = 3 (E x ) j 3 j 2 3 j + 1
N j =1
8
2
2
(
)
(
)
Ef =
5
3
1

3
+
1
+
1
.
5
3
2
3(2 ) + 1
3
( 6)
2

{[

]}

5 3(3) 3(3) + 1 106

E f = 4.09 106 psi

Youngs Modulus: [0/90/0]S

E x = E1v1 + E2 v2
4
2
E x = 5 + 1.5 10 6
6
6

E x = 3.83 10 6 psi
so, for laminated beam, the Youngs modulus is
usually different from the flexural modulus!

Use of Ef in laminated beam deflection

analysis
Ex: Laminated cantilever beam
L
P = Load
wmax
EfIyy

wmax

PL3
=
3E f I yy

Ex: Euler buckling load for laminated column

P

Pcr =

2 E f I yy
L2e

Similarly, other equations

involving E can be modified for
laminated beams in pure flexure.

Ply Stresses

( x ) j = (E x ) j

(7.3)

But, from moment curvature equation,

1
M
=
E f I yy
M
(E x ) j z
( x ) j =
E f I yy
Mz (E x ) j
=
Correction term

Homogeneous, I
E
yy
f for laminated
isotropic beam
stress

(7.13)

beam

At a given section of laminated beam,

M
= Constant = K1
E f I yy

remaining term (Ex)jz determines maximum

stress, i.e.,
( x ) j = K1 (E x ) j z

( x ) jmax = K1 (E x ) j z max
Maximum stress not always at zmax, as it is
for homogeneous, isotropic beam.

Stress distributions in homogeneous,

isotropic beams and in laminated beams
Homogeneous, Isotropic

Laminated

x
2
x

3
1
x

(Ex )3 > (Ex )2 > (E x )1

3
2
1
x

(Ex )1 = (Ex )3 < (E x )2

Use of failure criteria in beam strength analysis

Ex: bending moment for a particular ply failure
Rearranging Equation (7.13):
E f I yy ( x ) j
M=
(E x ) j z
For failure of 0 ply in compression,
E f I yy S L( )
(7.14)
M max =
(E1 ) j z j
where ( x ) j = S L( ) , z = z j
(Ex ) j = E1

10

Ex: for failure of transverse 90 ply in tension

M max =

E f I yy ST( + )

(7.15)

E2 z j

where ( x ) j = ST(+ )

z = zj

(E x ) j = E2

First ply failure:

Check Mmax for each ply, to determine
smallest Mmax corresponding to first ply
failure.
Bending moment, M, related to applied
loads through static equilibrium.
P
Ex:

M max =

PL
4

11

Transverse Shear Stresses in

Laminated Beams
dM
=V
dx

Recall:

(7.16)

when shear force, V, is present, Moment,

M, changes with position, x.
V + dV
M + dM

M
V

dx

( x ) ( x + dx )

Differential element of a laminated beam showing

interlaminar shear stress which is necessary for static
equilibrium when the bending moment varies along the length

zj

zj-1

( x )k

( x ) j

( x )N 2

dx
(xz)k
k

N/2

( x )k +

d
( x )k dx
dx

( x ) j +

d
( x ) j dx
dx

( x )N 2 +

d
( x )N 2 dx
dx

12

Static equilibrium requires that interlaminar

shear force be present

( xz )k
kth lamina

( x )k

( x )k +

( xz )k +1

d
( x )k dx
dx

See Fig. (7.5) for laminate

Static equilibrium:

N 2 zj

N 2 zj

=0

d ( x ) j

dx

( xz )k dx + ( x ) j dz ( x ) j +
j =k
j =k
z j 1

or

z j 1

N 2 zj

( xz )k =
j =k

z j 1

but

dx

(E x ) j

E f

( x ) j = Mz
I yy

d ( x ) j

dx dz = 0

(7.17)

dz

(7.18)

(7.13)

13

dM
=V
dx

and
so

( xz )k

V
=
E f I yy

(7.16)

N 2 zj

(E ) zdz
j = k z j 1

x j

(7.19)

For rectangular beam with even N of

uniform thickness,
h
zj = j
N
and

( xz )k =

4
where S = 2
N

3V S

2bh E f

(7.20)

N 2

(E ) (2 j 1)
j =k

x j

(7.21)

Recall from mechanics of materials, for

homogeneous, isotropic beam, that

VQ
Ib
And for rectangular beam,

xz =

3V
z
xz =
1 4
2bh
h

(7.22)

14

Variation of shear stress, as governed by the factor , across

half of the beam thickness for homogeneous, isotropic beams
and laminated beams. Results are given for laminated beams
with a small number of plies and a large number of plies.

Stress distributions for the beam described

in Example 7.2

(a) Normal Stresses

(b) Shear Stresses

15