Strength Analyses of Laminated Composite Structures Based on Different Theories

Modern materials, such as composite ones, slowly replace conventional materials in structures of different kind and their growing popularity is caused by their multiple advantages. Through selection of parameters, such as number of layers, thickness of layers, direction of arranging fibers, or material from which internal and outside layers are made, it is possible to control properties of a structure. In the result, structures made of composite materials have high ratio of flexural stiffness to weight. The goal of this paper is to compare three theories of laminated composite plates and shells with the help of the multilayered rectangular plate model subjected to crosswise pressure perpendicular to the surface of a plate. Comparison was made for the classical laminated theory (CLT), first-order laminated theory and third-order laminated theory (TSDT). In all these theories, the number of parameters describing the displacement doesn't depend on the number of layers. For each of these theories strains and displacements were determined. Additionally, the computations time for every method were compared. Obtained results are presented in the form of tables. The analysis of the obtained solutions will be used as the base in choosing the best theory in multicriteria optimization process of composite thin-walled structures. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)