The Sensitivity of Residual Stresses of Cross-Ply Laminates to Manufacturing and Material Parameters

By using a finite-element model elaborated, the sensitivity of residual stresses of polyester/glass cross-ply laminates to manufacturing and material parameters is investigated. The development of residual stresses in the laminates and the significance of the parameters for the problem are discussed. It is found that the main attention in calculating residual stresses should be focused on the properties of resin, which must be measured with care. The most important parameters related to the resin are, of course, its stiffness, thermal expansion, and chemical shrinkage, while the properties of fibers can be obtained from material handbooks with a sufficient accuracy. In curing a thin laminate in an autoclave, the simulation of chemical reactions and the parameters needed in thermal analysis are quite insignificant, because, in practice, the autoclave temperature and the properties of the mold determine the laminate temperature history.