Mechanics of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Structures

Prof. Debabrata Chakraborty

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati

Module-08
Elastic Behaviour of Laminates-II
Lecture-24
Analysis of Laminates

Hello and welcome. We have been discussing the macro mechanical analysis of laminate and in
last few lectures, the classical lamination theory has been discussed and the constitutive relation
for a layered laminate has been obtained where the force and moment resultants were related to
A B
B D
the mid surface strains and curvatures by the so called   matrix. Using this, the

determination of strains and stresses in each lamina of the laminate was also discussed.
A B
B D
Depending upon the values of the elements of the   matrix, some special cases of laminate

stiffnesses and some special types of laminates viz. symmetric laminates anti-symmetric laminates,
balanced laminates, quasi-isotropic laminate etc and their significance in terms of achieving the
desired stiffness and behavior of laminates under load have also been discussed. Then, when a
laminate experiences a temperature change or a moisture concentration change the residual stresses
induced in the laminate known as hygrothermal stresses have been discussed in the last lecture.
In today’s lecture two problems will be solved with an objective to understand the steps in analysis
of laminate subjected to load.
(Refer Slide Time: 02:01)

365
Example 1: In the first problem a Glass/epoxy [0/90] laminate as shown
in the Fig. is subjected to only Nx ≠ 0 (Ny=Nxy=Mx=My=Mxy=0).
Properties of the UD Glass/epoxy lamina are given as

Ε1 =38.6 GPa
[0 / 90]
Ε 2 =8.27GPa
tk = 5mm
ν 12 = 0.28
G12 = 4.14GPa
Stresses in each lamina need to be determined.

Solution:
Here the laminate is a [0/90]. Glass/epoxy subjected to Nx = 100 N/mm and Nx = Ny= Nxy=0.
Similarly Mx= My= Mxy=0. The laminate configuration is given that is the number of layers in the
laminate, properties (E1, E2, ν12, G12) of each layer, geometry of each lamina meaning the thickness
(5 mm) of the lamina as well as the positions with reference to the mid surface of the laminate that
is the stacking sequence is known.
Note that this is not a symmetric laminate and is an unsymmetric laminate. In this problem,
intentionally an unsymmetric laminate has been considered to keep the problem general in nature
that is all the three matrices [A], [B] and [D] exist. In addition, only a two layer laminate is
considered for the ease of analysis. However the procedure is same for a general n-layer laminate.

366
Step 1: Reduced stiffness matrix [Q ] for UD Glass/epoxy lamina has been calculated as

=
From Ε1 38.6 GPa
= , Ε 2 8.27GPa
= ,ν 12 0.28,
= G12 4.14GPa using
Ε1 Ε2 ν 12 Ε 2 ν 21Ε1
=Q11 =
; Q22 =; Q12 = = ; Q66 G12 ,
1 −ν 12ν 21 1 −ν 12ν 21 1 −ν 12ν 21 1 −ν 12ν 21
39.16 2.18 0 
 0  GPa
[Q ] =  8.39
 4.14 

Step 2: From [Q ] and knowing fiber orientation angle θ for each lamina, elements of reduced

transformed stiffness matrix Q  for each lamina are calculated using the following which is

discussed in details in macromechanics of lamina.

 Q11 =Q11c 4 + 2 ( Q12 + 2Q66 ) s 2 c 2 + Q22 s 4 

 
 Q12 = ( Q11 + Q22 − 4Q66 ) c 2 s 2 + Q12 ( s 4 + c 4 ) 
 
Q 22 =Q11s + 2 ( Q12 + 2Q66 ) c s + Q22 c 
4 2 2 4

 
 Q16 = ( Q11 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c − ( Q22 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c 
3 3

 3
Q 26 = ( Q11 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c − ( Q22 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c 
3

 
Q 66 = ( Q11 + Q22 − 2Q12 − 2Q66 ) c s + Q66 ( s + c ) 
2 2 4 4

And the reduced transformed stiffness matrices for each layer are

39.16 2.18 0 
Q=  = 
Q   8.39 0  GPa ;
0°
 4.14 
8.39 2.18 0 
Q   =  39.16 0  GPa
90 
 4.14 

(Refer Slide Time: 08:21)

Even though in the present problem, we have only two layers viz. 0⁰ and 90⁰, even for an n layer
laminate the reduce stiffness matrix [𝑄𝑄] could be calculated using the same procedure.

(Refer Slide Time: 11:38)

367
Step 3: Having calculated reduced transform stiffness matrix for each layer, in the next step [A],
[B] and [D] matrices are obtained from the [𝑄𝑄] for each layer and their stacking sequence

information as follows.

 2.37 ×108 2.18 ×107 0 

n
 
[ A] = ∑ Q  k ( zk − zk −1 ) =  2.18 ×10 2.37 ×10
7 8
0  Pa-m
k =1
 0 0 4.14 ×10 
7

 −3.84 ×106 0 0
1 n
 
[ B ] ∑ Q  k ( z k =
= 2
− z k −1 ) 
2
0 3.84 ×10 0  Pa-m 2
6

2 k =1
 0 0 0 
1.98 ×103 1.81×102 0 
[ D ] = ∑ Q  k ( z 3k − z 3k −1 ) = 1.81×102 1.98 ×103 
1 n
3
0  Pa-m
3 k =1
 0 0 3.45 ×102 

With reference to the Fig., note that for the 0⁰ layer, zk −1 =

−2.5 mm and zk =
0 and for the 90⁰ layer,

A B
zk −1 = 0 and zk = −2.5 mm . B D
Therefore, the   matrix looks like (note that [A], [B] and [D] have

different units)

368
  2.37 ×108 2.18 ×107 0 −3.84 ×106 0 0 
 
 2.18 ×10 2.37 ×108 3.84 ×106
7
0 0 0 
A B  0 0 4.14 ×107 0 0 0 
 B D  =  −3.84 ×106 1.98 ×103 1.81×102

   0 0 0 
 0 3.84 ×106 0 1.81×102 1.98 ×103 0 
 
 0 0 0 0 0 3.45 ×102 

(Refer Slide Time: 14:10)

 Nx   ε xo 
N   o
 y  εy 
 N xy   A B   γ xyo 
 =  
 M x  B D  Kx 
A B My   Ky 
B D    
Step 4: Knowing the   matrix and using  M xy   K xy  the applied load vector the

mid surface strains and curvatures are obtained as follows.

369
  ε xo  100 ×103    ε x    620.7 ×10−6  
o
 Nx 
 o N      ε o     
−56.95 ×10  m m 
−6

 ε y  y   0    oy  
 γ xy   A B   N xy   A B   0
−1 −1
  γ xy    0  
  
o

=   =
  M  B D  0 ⇒  =   
  K x   1.205 × 10 
−1
K
  x  B D   x     
 Ky  My   0   K    
1 m 
  y 
0
       
 xy 
K  xy 
M  0   K xy    0  

Now in this case we have taken Nx = 100 N/mm = 100 kN/m because all other units are in Pascal
(Pa).
Now the laminate considered is actually an unsymmetrical unsymmetric laminate. Therefore even
though only Nx (uniaxial tensile loading along x) is applied, but besides producing in plane strains
it also resulted to curvatures.
(Refer Slide Time: 17:55)

Step 5: Knowing the mid surface strains and curvatures, the strains in each (kth) layer (in x-y)
could be obtained using the mid surface strains and curvature as
ε  ε o  K  σ x  εx 
 x   x  
x
    
ε y   ε y  + z  K y = ; → σ y  Q  k  ε y 
o
=
   o    τ  γ 
γ xy k γ
 xy   K xy   xy k  xy k
k = 1, 2,3,.......n

370
 Where, z is the distance of the middle surface of the kth layer from the laminate mid surface (ref
Fig.).

ε   620.7 ×10−6  1.205 ×10−1  ε x =

18.199 ×10−6


x
 
 −6   
Ply 1( 0° ) : ε y  = −56.95 ×10  − 0.005  0 ;ε y =−56.95 ×10−6 ;
     
γ xy 
 k  0   0  γ xy = 0

ε   620.7 ×10−6  1.205 ×10−1  ε x =

1223.2 ×10−6
 x   −6   
Ply 2 ( 90° ) : ε y  = −56.95 ×10  + 0.005  0 ;ε y =−56.95 ×10−6
     
γ xy k 
0   0  γ xy = 0

So, knowing the strains is in the global axis (x-y) of a lamina, the stains in the local axes (1-2) for
that lamina could be obtained using the strain transformation as follows.

       
 ε1   ε  ε  18.199 × 10−6   ε1   ε  ε  −56.95 × 10−6 
   x 1
   x 1

= ε2  ]θ =0°  ε y  ;  ε 2 
[T= 
=
−56.95
−6 
× 10   ε2  ]θ =90°  ε y  ;  ε 2 
[T=  −6 
1223.2 × 10 
γ   γ  γ    γ   γ  γ   
 xy   12 0  xy   12 90
 0   0 
 12   12 
 2 0  2 0 and  2   2 90

Even though the strains are calculated at the middle of the layer, strains could be calculated at the
top of bottom of the layer also using the appropriate values of z.
(Refer Slide Time: 23:44)

371
(Refer Slide Time: 25:37)

Step 6: Multiplying the material axis strains of each layer by the reduced stiffness matrix for the
layer, the material axes (1-2) stresses for each layer could be calculated as

σ 1   ε1 
) : σ 2 
Ply 1( 0°= [Q
= ]  ε 2 
τ  γ 
 12 0°  12 0°
σ 1   ε1 
   
Ply 2 ( 90° ) : σ 2  = [Q ]  ε 2  =
τ  γ 
 12 90°  12 90°

372
Note for a general laminate having n-layers that this kind of problems are actually not done
manually because it will be tedious. However, to illustrate the steps, it was done manually
considering a two layer laminate only.
Now, knowing the material axis stresses and strains in each lamina, appropriate failure theory
could be applied to assess the failure or safety of that particular lamina and that will be discussed
in details in failure of laminates. But here the steps that are involved in determination of the stresses
in each lamina of a laminate has been discussed.

Example 2: In the second example, the same [0/90] glass epoxy laminate is considered but it
is only subjected to ∆T and the residual stresses in each lamina need to be determined.

∆T =−75°C [0 90] Glass / Epoxy

α= 8.6 ×10 −6
tk = 5mm

1
m/m/°C
α 2 22.1×10−6 
=

Solution:

Here the laminate is a [0/90]. Glass/epoxy subjected to ∆T =−75°C and Nx = Nx = Ny= Nxy=0.

Similarly Mx= My= Mxy=0. The laminate configuration is given that is the number of layers in the
laminate, properties (E1, E2, ν12, G12) of each layer, geometry of each lamina meaning the thickness
(5 mm) of the lamina as well as the positions with reference to the mid surface of the laminate that
is the stacking sequence is known.
Note that this is not a symmetric laminate and is an unsymmetric laminate. In this problem,
intentionally an unsymmetric laminate has been considered to keep the problem general in nature
that is all the three matrices A, B and D exist. In addition, only a two layer laminate is considered
for the ease of analysis. However the procedure is same for a general n-layer laminate.

Step 1: Reduced stiffness matrix [Q ] for UD Glass/epoxy lamina has been calculated as

373
 =
From Ε1 38.6 GPa
= , Ε 2 8.27GPa
= ,ν 12 0.28,
= G12 4.14GPa using
Ε1 Ε2 ν 12 Ε 2 ν 21Ε1
=Q11 =
; Q22 =; Q12 = = ; Q66 G12 ,
1 −ν 12ν 21 1 −ν 12ν 21 1 −ν 12ν 21 1 −ν 12ν 21
39.16 2.18 0 
 0  GPa
[Q ] =  8.39
 4.14 

Step 2: From [Q ] and knowing fiber orientation angle θ for each lamina, elements of reduced

transformed stiffness matrix Q  for each lamina are calculated using the following which is

discussed in details in macromechanics of lamina.

 Q11 =Q11c 4 + 2 ( Q12 + 2Q66 ) s 2 c 2 + Q22 s 4 

 
 Q12 = ( Q11 + Q22 − 4Q66 ) c 2 s 2 + Q12 ( s 4 + c 4 ) 
 
Q 22 =Q11s + 2 ( Q12 + 2Q66 ) c s + Q22 c 
4 2 2 4

 
 Q16 = ( Q11 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c − ( Q22 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c 
3 3

 3
Q 26 = ( Q11 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c − ( Q22 − Q12 − 2Q66 ) s c 
3

 
Q 66 = ( Q11 + Q22 − 2Q12 − 2Q66 ) c s + Q66 ( s + c ) 
2 2 4 4

And the reduced transformed stiffness matrices for each layer are

39.16 2.18 0 
Q=
 = 
Q   8.39 0  GPa ;
0°

 4.14 
8.39 2.18 0 
Q   
= 39.16 0  GPa
90

 4.14 

Even though in the present problem, we have only two layers viz. 0⁰ and 90⁰, even for an n layer
laminate the reduce stiffness matrix [𝑄𝑄] could be calculated using the same procedure.

Step 3: Having calculated reduced transform stiffness matrix for each layer, in the next step [A],
[B] and [D] matrices are obtained from the [𝑄𝑄] for each layer and their stacking sequence

information as follows.

374
  2.37 ×108 2.18 ×107 0 
n
 
[ A] = ∑ Q  k ( zk − zk −1 ) =  2.18 ×10 2.37 ×10
7 8
0  Pa-m
k =1
 0 0 4.14 ×10 
7

 −3.84 ×106 0 0
1 n
 
[ B ] ∑ Q  k ( z k =
= 2
− z k −1 ) 
2
0 3.84 ×10 0  Pa-m 2
6

2 k =1
 0 0 0 
1.98 ×103 1.81×102 0 
[ D ] = ∑ Q  k ( z 3k − z 3k −1 ) = 1.81×102 1.98 ×103 
1 n
3
0  Pa-m
3 k =1
 0 0 3.45 ×102 

With reference to the Fig., note that for the 0⁰ layer, zk −1 =

−2.5 mm and zk =
0 and for the 90⁰ layer,

A B
zk −1 = 0 and zk = −2.5 mm . B D
Therefore, the   matrix looks like (note that A, B and D have

different units)

 2.37 ×108 2.18 ×107 0 −3.84 ×106 0 0 

 
 2.18 ×10 2.37 ×108 3.84 ×106
7
0 0 0 
A B  0 0 4.14 ×107 0 0 0 
 B D  =  −3.84 ×106 1.98 ×103 1.81×102

   0 0 0 
 0 3.84 ×106 0 1.81×102 1.98 ×103 0 
 
 0 0 0 0 0 3.45 ×102 

(Refer Slide Time: 37:12)

375
 α1  8.6 × 10−6 
   −6 
α2 
= 22.1× 10 
0   
Step 4: Given, the CTEs of the lamina with reference to the materials axes as   0 

, the CTEs in the global axes (x-y) could be evaluated as

 
 αx   α1 
   
{=
α } XY =αy  [T] α 2 
-1

α   
 xy  0
 2 
And then for each layer

α x   8.6 ×10−6  α x  22.1×10−6 

   −6     −6 
=α y  =22.1×10  m/m/°C &  α y   8.6 ×10  m/m/°C
α       
 xy 0  0  α xy 90  0 

(Refer Slide Time: 40:08)

376
Step 5: Knowing for each layer (k), , equivalent thermal loads have been evaluated as
T
 Nx  α x  α x  α x 
       
 N y  = ∆T ∑ Q  k  α y  ( zk − zk −1 ) = (−75) Q  0  α y  × 0.005 + (−75) Q  90  α y  × 0.005
2

N  k =1
α  α  α 
 xy   xy k  xy 0  xy 90

 N x  −2.21×105 
   5
⇒  Ny  =−2.21× 10  Pa-m
N   0 
 xy   

And the equivalent thermal moments are evaluated as

T
Mx  α x  α x  α x 
  ∆T   2 −75   −75  
∑
2

My  = Q =  α y  ( z k − z k −1 ) ( ) Q    α y  (0 − (−0.005) ) + ( ) Q    α y  (0.005 − 0 )

2 2 2 2 2

M  2 k =1
k
α  2  0 α  2   90 α 
 xy   xy k  xy 0  xy 90

 M x   1.695 ×102 
   2
⇒ My  = −1.695 ×10  Pa-m
2

M   0 
 xy   

(Refer Slide Time: 42:06)

377
Step 6: Using the relation

 ε xo   ε xo 
T T
 Nx   Nx 
N   o  o N 
 y  εy   εy   y
 N xy   A B   γ xyo   γ xyo   A B   N xy 
−1

=      →=      
 M x  B D  Kx   Kx  B D  M x 
My   Ky   Ky  My 
       
 M xy   K xy   K xy   M xy 

the mid surface strains and curvatures due to ΔT are calculated as

378
 −1
 ε xo   2.37 ×108 2.18 ×107 0 −3.84 ×106 0 0   −2.21×10−4 
 o    −4 
 ε y   2.18 × 10 2.37 × 108 3.84 ×106  −2.21×10 
7
0 0 0 
 γ xyo   0 0 4.14 × 107 0 0 0   0 
 =   2 
 K x   −3.84 ×10 1.98 × 103 1.81×102  1.695 ×10 
6
0 0 0 
 Ky   0 3.84 ×106 0 1.81×102 1.98 ×103 0  −1.695 ×102 
     
 K xy   0 0 0 0 0 3.45 ×102   0 

  ε xo   −1.042 ×10−3  
  o     
  ε y   −1.042 ×10  m m 
−3

 γ xyo    0  
      
⇒ =
  
 K x   −1.28 × 10 
−1

 K    1.28 × 10−1 1 m 
 y     
 K xy    0  

(Refer Slide Time: 44:05)

Step 7: From the mid surface strains and curvatures, the strains and stresses in global (x-y) axes
in all the layers are calculated using

379
 ε   ε o  K 
 x   xo  
x

ε =
 y   y ε + z K
 y
   o   
γ xy k γ xy   K xy 
σ x  εx 
   
⇒ = σ y  Q  k  ε =
y 
(k 1, 2,3,.......n)
τ  γ 
 xy k  xy k

Now,
At Top of 0o (z=-0.005m)
 ε x   ε xo   Kx  −3.99 ×10−4 
   o    −3 
 ε y  =  ε y  + (−0.005)  K y  =  −1.68 ×10 
γ  γ o  K   0 
 xy 0  xy   xy   

(Refer Slide Time: 45:46)

The free thermal strain in layer 1 (0⁰ layer) is

T
εx  α x   8.6 ×10−6  −0.645 ×10−3 
       
ε y  = ∆T  α y  =(−75) 22.1×10−6  =  −1.65 ×10−3 
γ  α   0   0 
 xy  0  xy 0    

Therefore, the residual strains in layer 1 is

380
 R T
εx  εx  εx   2.46 ×10−4 
       −5 
ε y  = ε y  − ε y  = −2.56 ×10 
γ       
 xy 0 γ xy 0 γ xy 0  0  and the corresponding residual thermal stresses are

R R
σ x  εx  9.56 ×106  σ 1 
R

     5  
σ=y Q  0o  ε=
y  3.18 ×10  Pa= σ 2 
τ  γ    τ 
 xy  0o  xy 0o  0   12  0o which also happened to be the material axes

residual stresses for the 0⁰ layer.

Similarly, for the layer 2 (90⁰ layer),

381
 Bottom of 90o (z=+0.005m)
 ε x   ε xo   K x   −1.68 ×10−3 
   o    −4 
ε y  = ε y  + (0.005)  K y  =
−3.99 ×10  and the free thermal strains
γ  γ o  K   0 
 xy   xy   xy   
T
εx  α x  22.1×10−6   −1.65 ×10−3 
       
ε y  = ∆T  α y  = (−75)  8.6 ×10−6  = −0.645 ×10−3 
γ  α   0   0 
 xy  90  xy 90    
The residual thermal strains are
R T
εx  εx  εx  −2.56 ×10−5 
       −4 
 ε y  = ε y  −  ε y  = 2.46 ×10  and the corresponding
γ       
 xy 90 γ xy 90 γ xy 90  0 
R R
σ x  εx  3.18 × 105 
     6
Residual Thermal Stresses σ =
y Q  90o  ε y=
 9.56 ×10  Pa
τ  γ   0 
 xy  90o  xy 90o  

The materials axes (1-2) residual stresses in layer 2 (90⁰ layer) are obtained using the stress
transformation as follows.
R
σ 1  σ x  9.56 ×106 
R

     5
σ =
2 [T ]
90o σ =
y 3.18 ×10  Pa
τ  τ   
 12  90o  xy  90o  0 

Here, only ΔT has been considered. But, in the same way, the residual
stresses in each layer due to ∆C, change in moisture concentration
(hygroscopic) could also be evaluated.
(Refer Slide Time: 52:21)

382
After calculating the residual stresses in each lamina in a laminate is
subjected to ∆T and due to ∆C individually, those stresses in the
material axis could be superposed for a laminate which is
simultaneously subjected to a mechanical load Nx, ∆T and ∆C.

383
384