MATS44102/MATS64602

ADVANCED COMPOSITES

(3 WEEKS –6 LECTURES)

LAMINATE ANALYSIS
- Lecture 3 -
Dr Leandro Maio
[email protected] MATS44102/MATS64602

Department of Materials ADVANCED COMPOSITES

Engineering Building A
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
United Kingdom
 Composite Plates & Shells: Lamina & Laminate

Aerospace composite structures: Wing skins, fuselage sections and other structural
components are typically plate or shell like structures
Composite lamina: A thin layer (often ~100-200 𝜇𝜇𝑚𝑚) of material with continuous fibres
(either uni-directional or bi-directional) in a polymer matrix (either thermoset or
thermoplastic type)
Composite laminates: Similar to plywood, fibre-reinforced polymer composite
laminates are made by bonding (polymer matrix acts as an adhesive) several laminae
(i.e. layers)
Courtesy: Boeing

Plywood:
Laminate with several Boeing 787 fuselage skin (with bonded Composite laminate: Several
layers bonded together beams/stiffeners): Carbon fibre laminae with different fibre
reinforced laminate with several orientations
laminae bonded together
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Assumptions:
1) Laminate consists of orthotropic laminae perfectly bonded together, with the principal axes of
each lamina (lamina reference system) oriented along arbitrary directions with respect to the
xy-axes (laminate reference system)
2) Laminate thickness is constant and much smaller that the length along the plate edges
3) The displacements (u, v, w) are small compared to the plate (i.e. laminate) thickness; and the
in-plane strains (εx, εy, γxy) are small compared to unity.
4) Transverse normal strain is negligible (i.e. 𝜀𝜀𝑧𝑧 = 0)
5) Each lamina obeys Hooke’s law (i.e. linear elasticity)
6) Displacements are continuous throughout the laminate.
7) In-plane displacements vary linearly through the thickness of the laminate, that is, u and v
displacements in the x- and y-directions are linear functions of z.
8) Straight lines normal to the middle surface remain straight and normal to that surface after
deformation, this implies that transverse shear strains γxz and γyz are zero.
9) Strain-displacement and stress-strain relations are linear
10) Each lamina is in a state of plane stress (i.e. in-plane stresses dominate) (σz= τxz= τyz= 0)
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory
reference plane after deformation
or midplane
before deformation
Laminate
section

Point B (z=0) moves to B', with a vertical displacement w0, u0 along x axes and v0 along y axes.

The displacement in the x direction of a generic point P:

Note that, since εz = 0 (point 4), the distance of P' from the mean surface is again z

The displacement of P in the direction z (point 7):

For small displacements and rotations (point 4) :

It follows that under the assumptions made it is:

and similarly: displacement of a generic point P can

be expressed in terms of displacements
while as for the vertical displacement: and rotations of the midplane.
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Laminate
section

Note that the displacement field is linear in z

Displacement components in the x, y, z directions

of a generic point P

Note that the variables of the midplane in the second member are functions of
only two coordinates (x,y), therefore the theory of lamination is bidimensional.
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

According to the 4 and 8 points: ε=

z γ xz= γ=
yz 0 plain strain field
For small displacements, the classical strain-displacement relations of elasticity

strain-displacement relations of elasticity

strain components on the reference plane

curvatures of the laminate

strains at any point in the laminate

Mid-plane strains Plate curvatures
εx   ε x0  κx 
   0  
ε xy 
= ε
 y + z κy 
γ xy  γ xy0  κ xy 
     

membrane deformations bending deformations

 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory
Displacement functions: Where u(x, y), v(x, y) and w(x, y) are
∂w(x, y) displacements in x, y and z directions; and
u(x, y) = u o (x, y) − z uo(x, y) and vo(x, y) are mid-plane
∂x
displacements along x and y directions
∂w(x, y)
v(x, y) = v o (x, y) − z
∂y
Where ε ox , ε yo , γ xyo are the mid-plane strains;
w(x, y) = wo (x, y) and kx, ky and kxy are mid-plane bending and
out-of-plane twisting curvatures

In-plane normal and shear strains:

∂u ∂u o ∂ 2w ∂u o ∂2w
εx = = − z 2 = ε xo + zκ x ε = o
; κ x = −z 2
∂x ∂x ∂x
x
∂x ∂x
∂v ∂vo ∂ 2w ∂v o ∂2w
εy = = −z = ε o
y + zκ y ε =o
; κ y = −z 2
∂y ∂y ∂y 2 y
∂y ∂y
∂u ∂v ∂uo ∂vo ∂ 2w ∂uo ∂vo ∂2w
γ xy = + = + − 2z = γ xyo + zκ xy γ o
= + ; κ xy = −2
∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂x∂y xy
∂y ∂x ∂x∂y

Note: These equations are very similar to the equations we derived in ‘classical plate theory’
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

σ x  Q11 Q12 Q12   ε x0 + zκ x  [Q]k being the

The stresses in the plane xy      0  transformed
= σ Q Q Q ε + zκ
and in the generic k lamina:  y   12 22 26   y y 
stiffness matrix
τ  Q16 Q26 Q66  γ xy0 + zκ xy 
 xy  k  k  k for the layer k

σ x   Q11 Q12 Q12   ε x0   Q11 Q12 Q12   zκ x 

         
σ y  Q12 Q22 Q26   ε y0  + Q12 Q22 Q26   zκ y 
τ  Q16 Q26 Q66  k γ xy0  Q16 Q26 Q66  k  zκ xy 
 xy k 

linear variation Hooke’s Law different stiffness

through the z from layer to layer
thickness

different stiffness
from layer to layer

Key concept: The stiffness matrix for each lamina is used to relate the stresses and strains at that
lamina in the laminate and then the stress resultants (i.e. moments, Mx, My & Mxy, and in-plane
loads, Nx & Ny, per unit length) are calculated by integrating the through-thickness stresses
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Stress resultants:
The axial force along x-axis per unit length, Nx:

and substituting the lamina stress–strain relationship:

The moment about x-axis per unit length, Mx:

and substituting the relationship as done above:

where t is the laminate thickness; and zk-1 and zk are the distances from the mid-surface
to the inner and outer surface of the k-lamina
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Stress resultants:
The axial force along x-axis per unit length Nx:

where the constants Aij (laminate extensional stiffnesses) and Bij (laminate-coupling stiffnesses)
are (with i,j=1,2,6) :

tk

( zk + zk −1 )
tk zk where: zk =
2

herein t is the laminate thickness, tk is the thickness of the k-lamina, zk-1 and zk are the
distances from the mid-surface to the inner and outer surface of the k-lamina
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Stress resultants:
The moment about x-axis per unit length, Mx:

where the constants Bij and Dij (laminate-bending stiffnesses) are:

1 N
Bij = ∫ (Qij )k zdz = ∑ (Qij )k (z k2 − z k2−1 )
t/2
tk zk
−t / 2 2 k =1
1 N  2 tk3 
Dij = ∫ (Qij )k z dz = ∑ (Qij )k (z k3 − z k3−1 )
t/2
 tk zk + 
2
−t / 2 3 k =1  12 

where t is the laminate thickness; and zk-1 and zk are the distances from the mid-
surface to the inner and outer surface of the k-lamina
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

(reference plane) coordinates of

middle surface the lower and
upper surfaces
of layer k
with respect to
the midplane
layer k
RF Gibson:
Principles of Composite
Material Mechanics,
McGraw-Hill, 1994.
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory
The other stress resultants Ny , Nxy , My & Mxy can be written in a similar from; and
the complete set of equations can be expressed in a matrix form as
[A] is the extensional stiffness matrix
(relates the in-plane forces to the midplane
in-plane
forces

strains);
[D] is the bending stiffness matrix (relates
moment moments

the moments to the curvatures);

twisting bending

[B] is the coupling stiffness matrix (couples

the in-plane forces with curvatures and the
moments with the mid-plane strains)

 N  A B  ε o  If B≠0 (geometric and/or material

Or in partitioned form:   = 
D   κ 
 asymmetry condition):
M   B
- in-plane forces produce flexural (κx, κy)
and twisting deformation (κxy) in addition
Coordinate system and
stress resultants for to in-plane deformation ε x0 , ε y0 , γ xy0 ;
laminated plate - moments produce extensional ε x0 , ε y0 and
shear deformation (γxy) of the middle
surface in addition to flexural (κx, κy) and
twisting (κxy) deformation.
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Terms B11kx, B12kyx cause coupling

at the laminate level even though
lamina coupling terms such as
Q16 and Q 26 may not be present.

Bij terms present due to

nonsymmetrical arrangement of
plies about middle surface.

If B11 = B12 = B16 = 0, no bending or twisting and if A16 = 0, pure stretching of middle surface

Simplifications possible if Bij = 0

If B11 = B12 = B16 = 0, no stretching or shearing and if D16 = 0, pure bending

 Laminate Layup
RF Gibson:
[0/90/45/45/0/90] Principles of
or [0/90/45]s Composite Material
Mechanics, McGraw-
Hill, 1994.
Symmetric Unsymmetric
laminate laminate
[(0 / 90)2 / 45]s

Anti-symmetric
laminate

Symmetric Symmetric
laminate laminate

Anti-symmetric
laminate
Symmetric
Unsymmetric [30/-30/30/-30/30/-30]
laminate
laminate
no simplified notation
 Types of Laminates

Based on the stacking sequence, composite laminates can be categorized as:

 Angle-ply Laminate: a laminate is called an angle-ply laminate if it has layers of the same thickness
and material, and are oriented at θ and −θ.
 Cross-ply Laminate: a laminate is called a cross-ply laminate if all the layers have the
orientation 0° and 90°.
 Balanced Laminate: a laminate is called a balanced laminate when it has pairs of layers of the same
thickness and material, and the angles of the layers have opposite signs. Balanced laminates can also
have layers at 0° and 90°.
 Symmetric Laminate: a laminate is called symmetric when the material, angle, and thickness of the
layers are the same above and below the midplane.
 Antisymmetric Laminate: a laminate is called antisymmetric when the material and thickness of the
layers are the same above and below the midplane, but the orientation of the layers have opposite
signs above and below the midplane.
Geometric and material symmetry: simplifications
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Determine the stiffness matrix for a [45/−45/−45/45] symmetric angle-ply laminate

consisting of 0.185 mm thick unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminae having the following
lamina engineering constants: E1 = 128 GPa, E2 = 9.5 GPa, G12= 6.4 GPa, ν12 = 0.31
Afterwards, considering the composite laminate subjected to a tensile stress of 750 MPa
along the 0° ply direction, calculate longitudinal (εxx) and transverse strains (εyy). Finally,
evaluate the laminate modulus (Ex) in the 0° ply direction. A view of the laminate is
shown below:

layup is symmetric with respect

to the plate mid-surface

A laminate is called an angle-ply laminate if it has layers of the

same thickness and material, and are oriented at θ and −θ
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

In plane stress state, σ33=σ13=σ23=0, lamina (or laminate) is subjected to stresses parallel to the
midplane and thus the costitutive relationship in traditional and contracted notations becomes:

σ 1   Q11 Q12 0   ε1 
    
σ 2  = Q12 Q22 0   ε 2 
τ   0 0 Q66  γ 12 
 12  

[Q] = [T ]−1[Q][T ]
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory
Transversely isotropic
Stiffness matrix of the lamina in the principal material axes: lamina in plane stress state

σ 1   Q11 Q12 0   ε1  138.8148 2.7159 0 

    
σ 2  = Q12 Q22 0   ε 2  [Q ] =  2.7159 9.0531 0  GPa
τ   0 0 Q66  γ 12   0 0 6.9000 
 12  

Transformed stiffness matrix of each lamina belonging to the sequence [45/-45/-45/45] in the
laminate reference system:
 45.2250 31.4250 32.4404 
[Q]+45° = 31.4250 45.2250 32.4404  GPa
σ x   Q11 Q12 Q16   ε x  32.4404 32.4404 35.6090 
    
σ y  = Q12 Q22 Q26   ε y 
τ  Q Q Q66  γ xy 
 xy   16 26
 45.2250 31.4250 -32.4404 
[Q]−45° =  31.4250 45.2250 -32.4404  GPa
-32.4404 -32.4404 35.6090 
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

The distances of the laminae interfaces from midplane, according to the z axis laminate are:
 z0 = - 0.37 mm
 z1 = - 0.185 mm
 z2 = 0 mm
 z3 = 0.185 mm
 z4 = 0.37 mm

lamina 1

lamina 2
z1 z0
lamina 3 z2 z3 z4
lamina 4
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

The distances of the laminae interfaces from midplane, according to the z axis laminate, are:
z0 = - 0.37 mm, z1 = - 0.185mm, z2 = 0 mm, z3 = 0.185 mm, z4 = 0.37 mm
The laminae are: 1 (+45°), 2 (-45°), 3 (-45°), 4 (+45°)

( ) 1
( )
A12 = Q12 ( z1 − z0 ) + Q12
2
( )
( z2 − z1 ) + Q12
2
( )
( z3 − z2 ) + Q12
4
( z4 − z3 )

 31.4537 21.9817 0 
=[ A]  21.9817 31.4537 0  GPa ⋅ mm

 0 0 24.5228

0 0 0 
=[ B] 0 0 0  GPa ⋅ mm 2
0 0 0 

1.4353 1.0031 0.7557 

=[ D ] 1.0031 1.4353 0.7557  GPa ⋅ mm3
0.7557 0.7557 1.1191 
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

N y 0=
σx= 740 N/mm = N xy 0
t
2
t t 
N x= ∫ σ x dz= σ x  − (− ) = σ x ⋅ t= 0.750 ⋅ (0.185 ⋅ 4)= 0.555 GPa
−
t 2 2 
2

where t is the laminate thickness

 Nx  εx  Nx  εx  ε x   0.0345 

           
 N y  = [ A]  ε y   0  = [ A]  ε y  ε y  = -0.0241
N  γ  0 γ  0  0 
 xy   xy     xy     

σx
E=
x = 21.74 GPa
εx
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory
Determination of stresses: Procedure

For the given load conditions, construct the load vector {N M}T

For the given laminate layup and lamina properties, calculate the
extensional stiffness matrix [A], the bending stiffness matrix [D] and the
coupling stiffness matrix [B]

Construct the ABD matrix

Invert the ABD matrix and multiply by the load vector {N M}T to calculate
the strain vector {ε κ}T

Use the strain vector {ε κ}T to calculate the lamina stresses by employing the
transformed lamina stiffness matrix [Q ]
 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

Determine the stiffness matrix for a [-45/45/−45/45] symmetric angle-ply laminate

consisting of 0.185 mm thick unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminae having the following
lamina engineering constants: E1 = 128 GPa, E2 = 9.5 GPa, G12=6.4 GPa, ν12= 0.31

A view of the laminate is shown below:

 Analysis of Laminate: Classical Laminate Theory

The distances of the laminae interfaces from midplane, according to the z axis laminate, are:
z0 = - 0.37 mm, z1 = - 0.185mm, z2 = 0 mm, z3 = 0.185 mm, z4 = 0.37 mm
The laminae are: 1 (+45°), 2 (-45°), 3 (-45°), 4 (+45°)

31.4537 21.9817 0 
[ A]  21.9817 31.4537 0  GPa ⋅ mm
 0 0 24.5228

 0 0 2.0424 
 0 B11 = B22 = B12 = B66 = 0, but B16 and B26 ≠ 0:
[ B]  0 2.0424  GPa ⋅ mm 2
antisymmetric angle ply laminates
 2.0424 2.0424 0 

1.4353 1.0031 0 
[ D] 1.0031 1.4353 0  GPa ⋅ mm3
 0 0 1.1191