A coupled analysis of experimental and theoretical results on the deformation and failure of composite laminates under a state of plane stress

The paper presents a comparison of experimental and predicted data within the frameworks of the “Failure Prediction of Composite Laminates” exercise. The comparison was performed by using a wide variety of experimental data specially selected by the organisers of the exercise. Test problems included the data of 14 experiments carried out by different scientists with four types of reinforced plastics. The behaviour of six different composite laminates was studied under several types of combined state of stress. The present paper deals with the comparison of theoretical results and experimental data. It is stated that the theoretical model proposed by Zinoviev and Tarakanov and the STRAN computer program based on the model, adequately describe the proposed set of experimental data. The merits and demerits of the model are analysed as well as the ways for its potential improvement. A short description of further refinement of the theoretical model is given. Several possible directions for further investigations are proposed.