Polymers & Composites

Composites Problem Set 3

Problem 1. A [0/90/0/90]s laminate is made from identical plies having the following properties:
E1 = 15 GPa G12 = 3 GPa
E2 = 6 GPa ν12 = 0.5
Each ply is 0.5 mm thick. The laminate is subjected to in-plane loads Nx = 60 kN/m and N xy = 4
kN/m. Calculate the normal and shear stresses in the 0˚ and 90˚ plies. Sketch the distribution of
normal stress σx through the thickness of the laminate. Calculate the average stresses σ x , σ y , τ xy
in the laminate and comment on whether they make sense considering the applied loads. Is this
an efficient laminate design for the given loading?

Solution:
First, find the stiffness matrix for the on-axis (0°) orientation.
E2 6
ν 21 = ν 12 = ( 0.5 )  = 0.2
E1  15 
E1 15
Q11 = = = 16.67 GPa
1 − ν 12ν 21 1 − (0.5)(0.2)

E2 6
Q 22 = = = 6.67 GPa
1 − ν 12ν 21 1 − (0.5)(0.2)

ν 12 E 2 ( 0.5 )( 6 )
Q12 = = = 3.33 GPa
1 − ν 12ν 21 1 − (0.5)(0.2 )
Q 66 = G12 = 3.00 GPa
Next, transform the stiffness to the specified ply orientations:

16.67 3.33 0 
[ ] 
Q 0 =  3.33 6.67 0  GPa
 0 0 3.00

6.67 3.33 0 
[ ] 
Q 90 = 3.33 16.67 0  GPa
 0 0 3.00

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 Polymers & Composites
Composites Problem Set 3

The laminate extensional stiffness is then calculated as

n
( ) ( ) ( )
Aij = ∑ Q ij k (z k − z k −1) = Q ij 0 (0.002m ) + Q ij 90 (0.002m )
k =1

46.67 13.33 0 
[A] = 13.33 46.67 0  MN/m

 0 0 12.00
Because the laminate is symmetric [B] = 0. Also, because the laminate is symmetric and there
are no applied moments [D] is not needed, and we can proceed with [A] alone.
The forces applied to the laminate are given as
N x = = 60 kN/m
Ny = 0
N xy = 4 kN/m
Calculating the laminate strains from {N} = [A]{ε0}:

60 46.67 13.33 0   ε0 

     x
3 0 
 0  = 13.33 46.67 0  (10 )  ε y 
4  0 12.00  0 
   0 γ
 xy 
Solving,

ε 0x = 14.0 x 10
-4
ε 0y = -4.0 x 10
-4
γ 0xy = 3.33 x 10-4

In the symmetric laminate loaded only by in-plane forces with no applied moments, the curvature
is zero, and the strains at the middle surface will exist throughout the thickness. Stress will then
be uniform through each ply orientation. First, the stress in the 0° plies:

σ x  16.67 3.33 0   14.0  22.0

      
σ y  =  3.33 6.67 0  − 4.0 × 10 − 4 GPa =  2.0  MPa
τ  3.00  3.33   1.0 
 xy  0  0 0  
Then, the stress in the 90° plies:
σ x  6.67 3.33 0   14.0   8.0 
     

σ y  = 3.33 16.67 0  − 4.0 × 10 − 4 GPa = − 2.0 MPa
τ 
 xy 90  0 0 3.00  3.33   1.0 
 

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 Polymers & Composites
Composites Problem Set 3

Stress sx vs. z

Stress, sx (MPa)
0 5 10 15 20 25
0
0.5
1
1.5
z (mm)

2
2.5
3
3.5
4

The average stresses are obtained by integrating the discontinuous distribution with respect to z
through the thickness and then dividing by the thickness of 4 mm. In this case, because the
laminate thickness is divided equally between 0° and 90° plies, the average stresses are simple
averages of the values in the two ply orientations.
(σ x ) avg = 15 MPa
(σ y ) avg = 0
(τ xy ) avg = 1 MPa

This laminate is not very efficient, since the 90° ply stresses are much lower than the 0° plies.
The laminate design can be improved by reducing the number of 90° plies or selecting other ply
angles.

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 Polymers & Composites
Composites Problem Set 3

Problem 2. A [45/-45/45/-45]s laminate is made from identical plies having the following
properties:
E1 = 15 GPa G12 = 3 GPa
E2 = 6 GPa ν12 = 0.5
Each ply is 0.5 mm thick. The laminate is subjected to an in-plane load Nx = 120 kN/m.
Calculate the ply stresses (normal and shear) as in Problem 1. Transform the stress to the
material coordinates to find σ 1 , σ 2 , and τ 12 for each ply orientation.
Solution:
As in Problem 5.1 the ply stiffness (in material coordinates) is

16.67 3.33 0 
[Q] =  3.33 6.67 0  GPa
 0 0 3.00

The stiffness must be transformed to the ply angles +45º and -45º

 10.50 4.50 ± 2.50

[ ]  
Q ± 45 =  4.50 10.50 ± 2.50 GPa
± 2.50 ± 2.50 4.167 

The laminate extensional stiffness is then calculated as

n
( ) ( ) ( )
Aij = ∑ Q ij k ( z k − z k −1) = Q ij + 45 (0.002m ) + Q ij −45 (0.002m )
k =1

42.00 18.00 0 
[A] = 18.00 42.00 0  MN/m

 0 0 16.67 

Because the laminate is symmetric [B] = 0. Also, because the laminate is symmetric and there
are no applied moments [D] is not needed, and we can proceed with [A] alone.
The laminate is loaded by forces
N x = (30 MN/m)(0.004 m) = 120 kN/m
N y = N xy = 0
Calculating the laminate strains from {N} =[A]{ε0}:

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 Polymers & Composites
Composites Problem Set 3

120 42.00 18.00 0   ε0 

     x
3 0 
 0  = 18.00 42.00 0  (10 )  ε y 
 0   0 16.67   0 
   0 γ xy 
Solving,

ε 0x = 3.5 x 10
-3
ε 0y = -1.5 x 10
-3
γ 0xy = 0

In the symmetric laminate loaded only by in-plane forces with no applied moments, the curvature
is zero, and the strains at the middle surface will exist throughout the thickness. Stress will then
be uniform through each ply orientation. First, the stress in the +45º plies:

σ x  10.50 4.50 2.50   3.5  30.0

     
σ y  =  4.50 10.50 2.50  − 1.5 × 10−3 GPa =  0.0  MPa
τ     5.0 
 xy  + 45  2.50 2.50 4.167  0   
Then, the stress in the -45° plies:
σ x   10.50 4.50 − 2.50  3.5   30.0 
     
σ y  =  4.50 10.50 − 2.50 − 1.5 × 10−3 GPa =

 0.0  MPa
τ    − 5.0
 xy  −45 − 2.50 − 2.50 4.167   0   
Although not specified, the ply stresses in the x-y coordinates should generally be transformed to
the material 1-2 system for use in failure criteria.
Using the transformation matrix :
 cos 2 θ sin2 θ 2 sin θ cos θ 

[T ] =  sin2 θ cos 2 θ − 2 sin θ cos θ  (4.18)
− sin θ cos θ
 sin θ cos θ cos 2 θ − sin2 θ 

The stresses in the +45 plies are

σ1  σ x   0.50 0.50 + 1.00 30.0  20.0 

       
σ 2  = [T ]+ 45 σ y  =  0.50 0.50 − 1.00  0  =  10.0 MPa

τ  τ     
 12 + 45  xy  + 45 − 0.50 0.50 0.00   5.0  − 15.0
and the stresses in the –45 plies,

σ1  σ x  0.50 0.50 − 1.00  30.0  20.0

       
σ 2  = [T ]−45 σ y  = 0.50 0.50 + 1.00  0  = 10.0 MPa
τ  τ     
 12 −45  xy  −45 0.50 − 0.50 0.00  − 5.0 15.0 

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 Polymers & Composites
Composites Problem Set 3

Problem 3. A laminate has ply orientation [45/0]s, where each ply is 4 mm thick and has the
following stiffness matrix referred to the material (1-2) axes:

30 1 0
Q = 1 3 0 GPa
0 0 1

If Nx = Ny = 4000 N/mm, Nxy = 0, Mx = 25,000 N-mm/mm, and My = Mxy = 0, calculate the

midplane strains, plate curvatures, and ply stresses.

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Polymers & Composites
Composites Problem Set 3

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