Random field formulation of composite laminates

Abstract

A numerical simulation algorithm is developed in the present paper in order to characterize the random strength distribution of a batch of composite laminates. The program is based on the assumption that the axial, transverse and shear strengths of the composite lamina are statistically characterized by two-dimensional random fields. Monte Carlo method is employed to generate these strengths. When loading is applied to the composite laminate, the resultant stresses are then compared with the generated strengths of the lamina based on Tsai-Hill or Tsai-Wu criterion. The strength of the laminate is then determined. Owing to the random strength distributions of the lamina, the strength of the composite laminate is also statistically distributed which can provide useful information on the reliability assessment of a structure or component made of the laminate. In order to verify the above simulation algorithm, experiment work is conducted in the present study. It is found that the proposed simulation algorithm can adequately capture the behavior of the experimental result. It is also concluded that, for the strength of the studied laminates, both the numerical simulation and experimental results can be fitted well by the normal probability density function. (c) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.