A state space approach for exact analysis of composite laminates and functionally graded materials

A class of problems of composite laminates and functionally graded materials (FGM) under extension, twisting, and bending is formulated in the state space setting. A solution approach for exact analysis of the deformation and stress fields in the media is developed. Exact solutions for torsion of cross-ply laminates and certain FGM are derived, which satisfy exactly the equations of anisotropic elasticity, the end conditions, the traction-free boundary conditions on the bounding planes of the rectangular section, and the interfacial continuity conditions in multilayered composite laminates, regardless of the number of layers. The solutions serve as useful benchmarks for numerical modeling and material characterization of composite laminates and FGM.