ABSTRACT
A lamina is a thin layer of a composite material that is generally of a thickness on the order of 0.005 in. (0.125 mm). A laminate is constructed by stacking a number of such laminae in the direction of the lamina thickness (Figure 2.1). Mechanical structures made of these laminates, such as a leaf spring suspension system in an automobile, are subjected to various loads, such as bending and twisting. The design and analysis of such laminated structures demands knowledge of the stresses and strains in the laminate. Also, design tools, such as failure theories, stiffness models, and optimization algorithms, need the values of these laminate stresses and strains.
