ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the commercial laminates used in industrial service and derives their standard matrices. The laminate standard matrices are fundamental in the computation of the total ply strains, which are essential in the analysis of the load-dependent durability. The chapter begins with the protocol to compute the standard matrix and thickness of any laminate. The designer feels relaxed and comfortable using the standard laminate mechanical properties, even if aware of their discrepancy from the actual values. The chapter introduces the fundamental concept of critical ply, whose failure defines the laminate durability. The critical ply depends on the mode of failure. The ply of chopped fibers in the corrosion barrier controls the weeping and the infiltration durability of sanitation and chemical pipes. The ply of unidirectional fibers control the stiffness and the rupture failures of composite equipment in non-chemical services such as wind blades and aircraft parts.
