Laminates load response analysis

Laminate load response analysis determines the response of a laminate to a given loading condition, based on the CLT. The results indicate how the laminate and its plies react when subjected to a loading. The analysis is frequently needed in a design process. Since the analysis is also complicated, a computer code that performs the analysis is one of the most important tools of the designer. The tool should have the following features ... 

Laminate failure analysis predicts the criticality of a loading condition by comparing actual ply stresses and strains with ply stresses and strains corresponding to the failure of the laminate. Failure criterion functions are used to take into account the combined effect of stress or strain components. The criticality of the loading condition is indicated with a reserve factor which defines how much the load can be increased before failure occurs. The importance of the analysis is evident. The need for a computer code is also obvious since the failure analysis is even more complicated than the load response analysis. 

In design with composite materials the engineer must be able to work back and forth through these three levels of analysis in order to select the best constituent materials for composite layers and to arrange the layer with the desired orientation and stacking sequence to achieve the optimum response of a laminated structure for a given loading environment. 

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