Analysis of Thick Section Composite Laminates Using Effective Moduli

Abstract

Three-dimensional effective moduli are used in the analysis of thick lami nates consisting of a large number of repeating identical sublaminates. Local stresses and strains in the laminae are recovered from the global average stresses and strains. A global- local method is developed in which the effective modulus theory is used to model the thick laminate except for the local region where accurate stresses are desired. Evaluative ex amples involving delamination cracks and free edge stresses are presented.