ABSTRACT
Analysis of a laminate, an essential part in the overall design of a product, is done at a macro level based on the gross hygro-thermo-mechanical characteristics of the laminae comprising the laminate. This chapter addresses the various aspects of laminate analysis at a macro level. Classical laminate theory (CLT) is the most popular theory in the analysis of a composite laminate and topics related to basic assumptions and restrictions, kinematics, kinetics, and constitutive relations are discussed. It discusses the Hygrothermal effects on laminate behavior, constitutive relations, and introduces coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) and coefficients of moisture expansion (CMEs). Special cases of laminate stacking sequences have great significance in laminate behavior and several such cases are addressed. Finally, the general failure behavior of a laminate is presented. Layerwise theories can be classified into two classes—the partial layerwise theories and the full layerwise theories. The displacement field in a partial layerwise theory provides for layerwise in-plane deformations only.
