Design and computation of laminated composite structures

The design and computation of laminated composite structures in terms of their strength is a complex task because many different mechanisms are involved in the damage and rupture to which these materials are subjected. The great diversity of the damage mechanisms and its evolution patterns make it extremely difficult to estimate the strength margins. In the case of woven ply laminates, the number of damage mechanisms is fairly small (no transverse rupture occurs and the material has a greater resistance to delamination) and the behaviour of the material is fairly simple to model up to rupture. The strategy adopted in the study on designing laminated composite structures is based on the choice of materials (woven or unidirectional plies) and the use of simple models (focusing on the rupture of the first ply) with which industrial structure analysis can be carried out. The choice of materials does not only depend upon mechanical criteria but also on the simplicity of the corresponding modelling procedures.