See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/235201265

Interlaminar Stresses in Composite Laminates

Article · May 1972

CITATIONS READS
20 2,287

1 author:

Byron Pipes
Purdue University
281 PUBLICATIONS 10,683 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Byron Pipes on 18 November 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Journal of Composite
Materials http://jcm.sagepub.com

Interlaminar Stresses in Composite Laminates Under Uniform Axial

Extension
R. Byron Pipes and N.J. Pagano
Journal of Composite Materials 1970; 4; 538
DOI: 10.1177/002199837000400409

The online version of this article can be found at:

http://jcm.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/4/4/538

Published by:

http://www.sagepublications.com

On behalf of:
American Society for Composites

Additional services and information for Journal of Composite Materials can be found at:

Email Alerts: http://jcm.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts

Subscriptions: http://jcm.sagepub.com/subscriptions

Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav

Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav

Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007

© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 Interlaminar Stresses in Composite
Laminates Under Uniform Axial Extension

R. BYRON PIPES

General Dynamics Corporation

Fort Worth, Texas 76101
and
N. J. PAGANO
Air Force Materials Laboratory
Nonmetallic Materials Division
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433

(Received July 30, 1970)

The response of a finite-width composite laminate under uniform

axial strain is treated through the application of classical elasticity
theory. Finite-difference solution techniques are employed to obtain
solutions for stresses and displacements throughout the region. Results
for material properties typical of a high modulus graphite-epoxy
composite material system are presented which explain the mechanism
of shear transfer within a symmetric laminate. In addition, results
of this work are compared to those given in a recent approximate
formulation.

INTRODUCTION

TECHNIQUE for determining the in-plane, elastic response

T HEof
~*
ANALYTICAL
a laminated composite, termed lamination theory ( LT ), is based upon
the assumption that a state of plane stress exists for symmetric ( B~~ = 0 )
laminates under in-plane tractions [1]. However, when the laminate is com-
posed of layers of different orientations, lamination theory implies boundary
tractions on a free edge which cannot exist [2-5]. It is therefore appropriate
to examine an exact (elasticity) solution in such a region. In this work we
shall derive the reduced form of the elasticity field equations for a symmetric
laminate under uniform axial strain and employ the finite-difference solution
technique to determine solutions for material properties typical of high
modulus graphite-epoxy composite material systems. The nature of this stress
distribution will also delineate the mechanism of shear transfer between the
layers of a symmetric laminate. In addition, a recent approximate formulation
by Puppo and Evensen is discussed and their results compared to those in
the present work.

538
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 Figure 1. Laminate Geometry.

FORMULATION
In the interest of consider a laminate consisting of four
simplicity, we
unidirectional fibrous composite layers, two with their axes of elastic sym-
metry ( fiber direction) at +0 and two at -8 to the longitudinal laminate
axis. Figure 1 shows the laminate geometry and coordinate system. The
constitutive relations for each layer with respect to the laminate coordinate
axes are given by

...... ---- -

The thirteen anisotropic material constants are related to the nine con-
stants with respect to the material symmetry axes through the well-known
stiffness transformation law [6]. The strain-displacement relations are as
follows:

Consider a laminate loaded by tractions applied only on its ends x = const.

such that the stress components are independent of x. Assuming that Saint-
Venant’s principle holds for a laminate, this type of stress distribution will
exist in regions sufficiently removed from the areas of load introduction. In
such regions the equilibrium equations take on a reduced form:

539
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 where a denotes partial differentiation. Integration of the stress-
comma

displacement relations, where all stress components are taken to be inde-

pendent of the axial coordinate x, results in displacements of the following
functional form within each layer

Since we are only concerned with symmetric angle-ply laminates under

extensional loading, we can enforce symmetry conditions for the displace-
ments with respect to the x-y and x-z planes, i.e.,
(a) x-y plane

(b) x-z plane

Equations (5) and (6), in conjunction with the displacement continuity

conditions at the interfaces, show that

for each layer, while C6 is the same for each layer. Hence, the general form
of the displacement field is given by

540
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
The class of problems defined by displacements of this form will be termed
&dquo;uniform axial extension&dquo; since the strain component cx is a constant. By
combining the reduced equilibrium equations (3) with the constitutive rela-
tions (1), the strain-displacement relations (2), and the displacements (8),
we can develop the governing field equations within each layer in the form

The field equations form a set of elliptic, coupled, second-order, partial-

differential equations. The appropriate boundary conditions for our specific
problem are presented in the next section.

NUMERICAL SOLUTION

The governing partial differential equations were solved by the method

of finite-differences. This method of solution has been well established as a
technique for obtaining numerical solutions for elliptic partial differential
equations [7]. When the finite-difference technique is employed, the con-
tinuous material region is replaced by a system of discrete material points
where discrete values of the dependent variables are to be determined. The
partial differential equations are expressed at each material point within the
region as algebraic equations by approximating partial derivatives by finite-
differences operators. In this work, central difference operators were em-
ployed at interior region material points, while forward and backward dif-
ference operators were employed at material points falling on boundaries.
When the partial differential equations and boundary conditions are written
in their approximate form as finite-difference equations, a linear, non-
homogeneous system of algebraic equations results. The number of algebraic
equations is equal to the product of the number of material points in the
material region and the number of dependent variables.
When large numbers of material points are established to properly ap-
proximate the continuous material system, the number of algebraic equations
becomes quite large and solution by standard numerical methods which em-
ploy the digital computer is uneconomical. However, due to the local nature
of the finite-difference operators employed in this work, the coeflicient matrix
for the resulting algebraic equations is highly banded in nature. By storing
only those terms of the coefficient matrix which fall within the band width
in the digital computer, a simple Gauss elimination scheme can be employed

541
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 Figure 2. Boundary Value Problem.

to large numbers of algebraic equations with maximum economy.

solve
Typical coefficient matrices of 1200 by 1200 with band widths of 60 to 80
were solved in total computer (IBM 360-65) times of approximately 2
minutes.
The material region under study in this work is reduced by symmetry
conditions to that of one quadrant of the laminate cross-sectional region in
the y-z plane as shown in Figure 2. The continuous region is replaced by
a rectangular grid of material
points with constant, square grid spacing. The
interface continuity conditions at z = ho, which require continuity of the
functions u, v, w, oz, Txz, and Tyx are approximated by constraining the interface
to lie midway between two rows of material points; however, numerical re-
sults presented in the next section reveal that these conditions are satisfied
well within the accuracy of the method of solution.
The traction-free boundary conditions imposed along boundary lines are
given by

Along lines of symmetry the following symmetric and anti-symmetric con-

ditions are employed

In order to fix the rigid-body displacement components, we also put U ( 0, 0 )

= 0. Finally, special conditions at the corners y = :i=b, z - ±2ho require
discussion. Although five traction-free conditions are known at a corner
(o,z = oy - Txy - Txx - Tyz = 0), only three of the five can be employed with-
out overspecification of the solution. By specifying three of the traction-free

542
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
conditions and obtaining a solution, satisfaction of the remaining two con-
ditions serves as a check on the results. In addition, by comparing solutions
corresponding to different combinations of three of the five conditions, solu-
tion sensitivity to the particular conditions specified can be determined.
Numerical results indicated that the two unspecified conditions were always
satisfied and that the solution was insensitive to the particular three traction-
free conditions specified at the corner within the numerical accuracy of the
solution technique.

RESULTS
Consider a four layer, ±45° laminate under a uniform axial strain, c,.
Lamination theory (LT) predicts a uniform, planar state of stress in each
layer which contains the axial stress component ~x, and a non-zero in-plane
shear stress component r~, which arises from the shear coupling term, Q16,
of the layer stiffness matrices. Although the LT stress components vary from
layer to layer, both ax and 7xy are constant within each layer. These results
are exact for laminates of infinite width. They are, however, incorrect for a
finite-width laminate since the in-plane shear stress is required to vanish
along the free-edge.
Employing the three-dimensional elasticity formulation and finite differ-
ence solution techniques discussed earlier, complete stress and displacements

results were obtained for material properties typical of a high modulus

graphite-epoxy composite material system and the geometric relation b = 8ho:

in the usual notation, where subscript &dquo;one&dquo; refers to the fiber direction.
Figure 3 shows the stress distributions at the interface z = h.. The inplane
shear stress is seen to converge to the value predicted by LT for ~/b < 0.5.
The axial stress, ux is also accurately predicted by LT for y/b < 0.5, while
assuming a slightly reduced magnitude at the free-edge. Three of the stress
components, Tyz, uy, and uz are very small. Finally, the interlaminar shear
stress Txz may be seen to become very large ( possibly infinite, as discussed
later) the free-edge
at and to decay to approximately zero at y/b = 0.5.
It is significant to note that while the planar stress distribution predicted
by LT is distorted by the presence of Txz, 0&dquo; z, and Tyz in regions near the lami-
nate free-edge, these interlaminar stress components decay rapidly with the
distance from the free-edge. In fact, numerical results for laminate geometries
blh,, == 4.0, 8.0, and 12.0 indicate that the region of disturbance is restricted
543
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
Figure 3. Complete Stress Results at Figure 4. Boundary Layer Width.
the Interface z =
ho.

a width equal to the laminate thickness, 4h., as shown in Figure 4. Therefore,

the presence of the interlaminar stress near the free-edge may be considered
to be a boundary layer or edge effect which is restricted to a region near
the free-edge, while the stress distribution in interior regions of the laminate
is adequately described by LT.
The distribution of the interlaminar shear stress through the laminate
thickness is shown in Figure 5. The shear stress vanishes at the free surface,
zlh,, = 2.0 and at the laminate mid-plane, z/h,, = 0, while attaining maxi-
mum
magnitude at the interface, z/h. 1.0. Dashed lines indicate extrapola-
=

tion to the interface. Extrapolation was not attempted at y/b = 1.0 since the
interlaminar shear stress there appeared to grow without bound. It has been
shown by Bogy [8] and discussed by Hess [9], that for bonded quarter-
planes of dissimilar materials, a singularity in the stress field exists at the
intersection of the free-edge and interface. In addition, an examination of
the axial displacement distribution through the laminate thickness, as shown
in Figure 6, shows that ~u/az is very large, if not infinite, at the interface.
These results, along with those of Bogy and Hess, lead one to suspect the
presence of a singularity in Txz at the same point. However, the approximate
nature of the finite- difference solution does not allow us to prove the exist-
ence, nor predict the strength, of such a singularity.
Numerical results are presented in Figure 7 which show the functional
dependence of the interlaminar shear stress on the fiber orientation. The
544
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 545
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 Figure 8. Effect of Grid Spacing on Interlaminar Shear
Stress Results.

ordinates of this curve are the respective normalized values of T xz at the node
point on the free edge nearest the interface. It is interesting to note that a
sign reversal in this quantity occurs near 0 = 60°.
Some results of an effort to study the effect of grid spacing upon the
finite-difference solution are shown in Figure 8. The curves illustrate the
close correspondence between the results for 168 grid points and for 396
grid points. Results shown previously were obtained with a grid containing
212 discrete points.
Results of an approximate formulation of the present problem have been
presented recently by Puppo and Evensen [4]. In their approximate formu-
lation, each laminae was modeled by two layers; an anisotropic layer in a
state of plane stress and an isotropic shear layer. Comparison of the present
results at the interface to those by Puppo and Evensen are shown in Figure
9. The results compare quite favorably for ~x and Txy; however, the Puppo-
Evensen interlaminar shear stress, 7’xz, does not possess a singularity but
rather takes on a finite magnitude at the free-edge. It may be concluded that
while the Puppo-Evensen formulation is not exact, it isolates the primary
variables and represents a useful approximate theory.
The results of this study serve as a guide in understanding the shear
transfer mechanism between layers of a composite laminate. As was shown
earlier, significant interlaminar shear stresses are induced in regions near
the laminate free-edge. When a free-body diagram is drawn for each layer
as shown in Figure 10, the resultant of the inplane shear stress Txy over the

two cut transverse surfaces x = const. is a non-zero couple. In order to satisfy

moment equilibrium, an equilibrating couple is required. This couple is
supplied by the interlaminar shear stress which acts on the interface, z ho. =

Although the problem studied in this work is the simplest problem in

546
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 Figure10. Interlaminar Shear Stress
Mechanism-Moment Equilibrium.

Figure 9. Comparison of Results at the

Interface. _

which this phenomenon is exhibited, the results are indicative of what must
take place in laminates of more complex geometries and loadings. Cut-outs
or holes in laminates provide internal free-edges where the effect will be

observed, but where the state of stress is much more complicated than that
studied in this work. Puppo and Evensen [4] correctly pointed out that in
the test section of a tubular specimen the &dquo;edge-effect&dquo; is not present due
to the absence of a free-edge. However, it must be pointed out that the
phenomenon will be exhibited near the ends of the specimen. This effect may
be significant in precipitating premature end failures, the severity depending
upon the details of the load introduction scheme.
It should be noted that the specific problem studied here is an attempt to
discern the influence of a free edge on laminate response. Our approach
entailed the treatment of a boundary value problem in which the phenomenon
is present while yielding a tractable solution. Only stress boundary condi-
tions on the laminate were considered, thus the present analysis does not
treat a bar with clamped ends under extension, such as a tensile coupon.
This is illustrated clearly in Figure 6, where the distribution of U (y, z) is
shown. The tensile coupon is subjected to displacement boundary conditions,
and is therefore susceptible to end constraint, analogous to, but probably
less severe than, that reported in [2]. One might also expect the axial dis-
placement to be antisymmetric in x in the latter case. But this behavior can
only be studied by abandoning the statement that all stress components are
independent of x. - - ~ _- _ - - ~ &dquo;- ?

547
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.
 CONCLUSIONS
In summary, have presented a finite-difference solution of the exact
we

elasticity equations which govern the behavior of a four layer, symmetric

angle-ply laminate under uniform axial extension. The results of the solution
have shown that significant interlaminar shear stresses are required to allow
shear transfer between the layers of the laminate. In addition, the interlaminar
shear stress was found to be an edge effect which is restricted to an edge
region approximately equal to the laminate thickness. Finally, we have seen
strong evidence of a singularity in the interlaminar shear stress at the inter-
section of the interface and free-edge. Such high stresses in the neighborhood
of the free edge may be expected to cause delamination of the laminate, in
particular under fatigue loadings. Observations of this phenomenon have
recently been reported by Foye and Baker [10].
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to express their appreciation for the valuable assistance of
Dr. J. E. Ashton, Dr. D. L. Reed, and Dr. J. M. Whitney.
This study was conducted under the Independent Research and Development
Program at General Dynamics Corporation/Fort Worth and the inhouse research
program of the Nonmetallic Materials Division, Air Force Materials Laboratory.

REFERENCES
1. E. Reissner and Y. Stavsky, "Bending and Stretching of Certain Types of Hetero-
geneous Aeolotropic Elastic Plates," Journal ofApplied Mechanics, Vol. 28 (1961),
p. 402.
2. N. and J. C. Halpin "Influence of End Constraint in the Testing of Aniso-
J. Pagano
tropic Bodies," J. Composite Materials, Vol. 2 (1968), p. 18.
3. R. B. Pipes, "Effects of Interlaminar Shear Stress Upon Laminate Membrane Per-
formance," Air Force Materials Laboratory/Industry Sponsored IRAD Status Report
on Composite Materials, Bethpage N. Y., April 1970.
4. A. H. Puppo and H. A. Evensen, "Interlaminar Shear in Laminated Composites under
Generalized Plane Stress," J. Composite Materials, Vol. 4 (1970), p. 204.
5. N. J. Pagano and J. M. Whitney, "Geometric Design of Composite Cylindrical Char-
acterization Specimens," J. Composite Materials, Vol. 4 (1970), p. 360.
6. S. G. Lekhnitskii, Theory of Elasticity of an Anisotropic Elastic Body, Holden-Day
(1963).
7. G. E. Forsythe and W. R. Wasow, Finite-Difference Methods for Partial Differential
Equations, Wiley (1960).
8. D. B. Bogy, "Edge-Bonded Dissimilar Orthogonal Elastic Wedges Under Normal and
Shear Loading," Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 35 (1968), p. 460.
9. M. S. Hess, "The End Problem for a Laminated Elastic Strip&mdash;II. Differential Expan-
sion Stresses," J. Composite Materials, Vol. 3 (1969), p. 630.
10. R. L. Foye and D. J. Baker, "Design of Orthotropic Laminates", presented at the 11th
Annual AIAA Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Denver,
Colorado, April 1970.

548
Downloaded from http://jcm.sagepub.com by R. Byron Pipes on July 4, 2007
© 1970 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.

View publication stats