1

Derivation and use of Laminate

Compliances
Recall: laminate force deformation equations

D B
B A
M
N
(7.45)
Inverted form:
stiffnesses

M
N
D B
B A
1

compliances
(7.46)
Inverted equations needed for :
Determination of lamina stresses and strains
from known loads
Determination of laminate engineering constants
Comparison of measured and predicted
compliances
Inverted Form:

M
N
D B
B A
1

(7.54)

=
M
N
D C
B A
' '
' '
Symmetric
2
Compliance matrix

' '
' '
D C
B A
may be formed
by inverting entire stiffness matrix, or by inversion
of subdivided smaller matrices.
Matrix Inversion:
Ex: inverse of square matrix [A]
[ ]
[ ] [ ]
A
adjA
A
a
A
T
= =
1
Where [a]
T
=adjoint matrix [A]
=transpose of cofactor matrix [a], and the
elements in the cofactor matrix are given
by a
ij
= (-1)
i+j
A
ij
and =determinant of [A]
A
Determination of Lamina Stresses and Strains
(Without Hygrothermal effects)
Procedure:
1. Knowing engineering constants for the plies,
E
1
, E
2
, G
12
,
12
, calculate the Q
ij
, for plies.
2. Using ply orientation, calculate
3. Using ply stacking sequence and ply
thicknesses, calculate laminate stiffnesses,
A
ij
, B
ij
, D
ij
4. Form stiffness matrix and invert
ij
Q
3
Determination of Lamina Stresses and Strains
(Without Hygrothermal effects)
5. Find strains and curvatures from
6. Find lamina stresses from
7. Apply failure criterion, if necessary.

M
N
D B
B A
1

(7.54)
{ } [ ] { } { } ( ) z Q
k k
+ =
Now that we have the inverted laminate force
deformation relationships in Equations (7.54),
the calculation of lamina stresses and strains
from known laminate forces and moments is a
straightforward procedures. For a laminate at
constant temperature and moisture content, the
stresses in the k
th
lamina are given by Equations
(7.31), which can be written in abbreviated
matrix notation as
Determination of Lamina Stresses and
Strains
{ } [ ] { } { } ( ) z Q
k k
+ =
0
(7.56)
4
where the midplane strains and curvatures
are given in terms of laminate forces and
moments by Equations (7.54). The lamina
stresses from Equations (7.56) can then be used
in conjunction with a lamina strength criterion
to check each lamina against failure. The
analysis of hygrothermal stresses will be
discussed later in Section 7.6, and laminate
strength analysis will be presented in Section
7.8
Determination of Lamina Stresses and
Strains
{ }
{ }
Example 7.6: The symmetric angle ply
laminatedescribed in Example 7.3 is subjected
to a single uniaxial force per unit length N
x
= 50
MPa mm. Determine the resulting stresses
associated with the x and y axes in each lamina.
Due to symmetry,
[B] = 0 and [A] = [A*] = [A]
-1
Since {M} = 0 here,
{ } [ ]{ } [ ] { } N A N A
1
'

= =
5
Using the inverse of the [A] matrix from Example
7.3, we find that,
( )
3
10
0
0
50
02809 . 0 0 0
0 04276 . 0 0297 . 0
0 0297 . 0 04276 . 0

xy
y
x

=
0
001485 . 0
002138 . 0
where (GPa-mm)
-1
=10
-3
(MPa-mm)
-1
Substituting the above strains and the lamina
stiffnesses from Example 7.3 in Equations (7.56),
the stresses in the +45 plies are found to be
( )
3
10
0
001485 . 0
002138 . 0
6 . 35 44 . 32 44 . 32
44 . 32 22 . 45 42 . 31
44 . 32 42 . 31 22 . 45

xy
y
x

MPa

=
2 . 21
0
50
where 10
3
MPa =GPa.
6
Similarly, the stresses in the 45 plies are
( )
3
10
0
001485 . 0
002138 . 0
6 . 35 44 . 32 44 . 32
44 . 32 22 . 45 42 . 31
44 . 32 42 . 31 22 . 45

xy
y
x

MPa

=
2 . 21
0
50
Note that, since the curvatures vanish for
this problem, the stresses do not depend on
the distance z.
Example 7.7: The antisymmetric angle ply
laminatedescribed in Example 7.4 is subjected
to a single uniaxial force per unit length N
x
= 50
MPa mm. Determine the resulting stresses
associated with the x and y axes in each lamina.
Since this laminate is not symmetric, we must
invert the full stiffness matrix as in Equation
(7.46) or Equation (7.54). Forming the full
stiffness matrix from the [A], [B] and [D]
matrices in Example 7.4 and inverting, the
resulting midplane strains and curvatures are
found to be ,
7
( )
3
10
0
0
0
0
0
50
39356 . 0 0 0 0 02083 . 0 02083 . 0
0 52625 . 0 34331 . 0 02083 . 0 0 0
0 34331 . 0 52625 . 0 02083 . 0 0 0
0 02083 . 0 02083 . 0 03284 . 0 0 0
02083 . 0 0 0 0 04386 . 0 02861 . 0
02083 . 0 0 0 0 02861 . 0 04386 . 0

xy
y
x
xy
y
x

1
1
1
001042 . 0
0
0
0
001430 . 0
002193 . 0
mm
mm
mm
mm mm
mm mm
mm mm
Where again the factor of 10
-3
has been introduced
for dimensional consistency. Due to the curvatures,
the total strains and stresses now depend on the
distance z (unlike Example 7.6). For example, at
the top surface of the #1 ply (45
o
), z =-0.5 mm and
the resulting total strains are
) 0 )( 5 . 0 ( 002193 . 0 + = + =
x x x
z
mm mm 002193 . 0 =
) 0 )( 5 . 0 ( 00143 . 0 + = + =
y y y
z
mm mm 00143 . 0 =
) 001042 . 0 )( 5 . 0 ( 0 + = + =
xy xy xy
z
mm mm 000521 . 0 =
8
Similarly, at the bottom surface of the #1 (-45
o
) ply,
or at the top surface of the #2 ply (+45
o
), z =-0.25
mm and the strains are
) 0 )( 25 . 0 ( 002193 . 0 + =
x
mm mm 002193 . 0 =
) 0 )( 25 . 0 ( 00143 . 0 + =
y
mm mm 00143 . 0 =
) 001042 . 0 )( 25 . 0 ( 0 + =
xy
mm mm 000261 . 0 =
At the top surface of the #3 ply (-45
o
), or at the
bottom surface of the #2 ply, z =0 and the
strains are
mm mm
x
002193 . 0 =
mm mm
y
00143 . 0 =
0 =
xy

At the top surface of the #4 ply (+45

o
), or at the
bottom surface of the #3 ply (-45
o
), z =+0.25
mm and
mm mm
x
002193 . 0 =
mm mm
y
00143 . 0 =
mm mm
xy
000261 . 0 =
Finally, at the bottom of the #4 ply (+45
o
),
z =+0.5 mm and
mm mm
x
002193 . 0 =
mm mm
y
00143 . 0 =
mm mm
xy
000521 . 0 =
9
The stresses at the top surface of the #1 ply (-45
o
)
are then,
( )
3
10
000521 . 0
001430 . 0
002193 . 0
6 . 35 44 . 32 44 . 32
44 . 32 22 . 45 42 . 31
44 . 32 42 . 31 22 . 45

xy
y
x

MPa

=
2 . 6
7 . 12
3 . 37
Where again 10
3
MPa =GPa. Similar
calculations for the other plies yield the values
shown in the table below.
6.2 -12.7 37.3 #4 Bottom
15.5 -4.2 45.8 #4 Top
-34.0 12.7 62.7 #3 Bottom
-24.7 4.2 54.2 #3 Top
24.7 4.2 54.2 #2 Bottom
34.0 12.7 62.7 #2 Top
-15.5 -4.2 45.8 #1 Bottom
-6.2 -12.7 37.3 #1 Top

x
(MPa)
y
(MPa)
x
(MPa) Location
Thus, the stress distribution across the thickness of the
antisymmetric laminate is quite complex, even for simple
uniaxial loading. This is typical for laminates which
exhibit coupling.
10
Determination of Laminate Engineering
Constants from Laminate Compliances
Ex: symmetric laminate, B
ij
= 0, under in plane
loads

xy
y
x
xy
y
x
A A A
A A A
A A A
N
N
N

66 26 16
26 22 12
16 12 11
(7.57)
Inverted Form:

xy
y
x
xy
y
x
N
N
N
A A A
A A A
A A A
' ' '
' ' '
' ' '
66 26 16
26 22 12
16 12 11

(7.58)
In plane loading of symmetric laminate for
defining the in plane laminate engineering
constants
t
N
x
t
N
y
t
N
xy
(a)
(c)
(b)
11
Effective Youngs Modulus, E
x
t
N
x
0 , 0 = =
xy y x
N N N
'
1
'
/
11 11
tA N A
t N
E
x
x
x
x
x
= =

(7.59)
Effective Youngs Modulus, E
y
0 , 0 = =
xy x y
N N N
'
1
'
/
22 22
tA N A
t N
E
y
y
y
y
y
= =

(7.60)
Caution: Deformation patterns must be consistent with definitions of
engineering constants.
Effective Shear Modulus, G
xy
t
N
xy
0 , 0 = =
y x xy
N N N
'
1
'
/
66 66
tA N A
t N
G
xy
xy
xy
xy
xy
= =

(7.61)
Effective Longitudinal Poissons Ratio
'
'
11
12
A
A
xy
=
(7.62)
Effective Shear Coupling Ratios
'
'
11
16
,
A
A
xy x
=
(7.63)
'
'
66
26
,
A
A
xy x
=
12
Bending moment loading of symmetric
laminate for defining the laminate
flexural moduli
b
M
x
b
M
x
(a)
(b)
Effective Flexural Moduli
Ex: Symmetric laminate subjected to bending only.
Inverted moment curvature equations

xy
y
x
xy
y
x
M
M
M
D D D
D D D
D D D
' ' '
' ' '
' ' '
66 26 16
26 22 12
16 12 11

(7.65)
13
Flexural Modulus, E
fx
0 , 0 = =
xy y x
M M M
x
x x
b
M
D M D

1
' '
11 11
= = = (7.66)
Where M=total bending moment
=M
x
b
=radius of curvature
b
M
x
x
x

1
=
For an equivalent homogeneous beam
x yy fx
I E
M

1
=
(7.67)
yy fx
I E
M
b
M
D = '
11
and
( ) 12 ' '
3
11 11
bt D
b
I D
b
E
yy
fx
= =
'
12
11
3
D t
E
fx
=
(7.68)
'
12
22
3
D t
E
fy
= (7.69)
Similarly,
14
Measurement of Laminate Compliances
for Comparison with Predictions
Strain gages bonded
to laminate
x
y
Determination of Strains
x
,
y
and
xy
from Strain Gage Rosette Measurements
x
y
x
y
Measure
x
,
y
,
x
with
strain gage rosette
Strain transformation equation:
cos sin sin cos
2 2
' xy y x x
+ + =
15
Determination of Strains
x
,
y
and
xy
from Strain Gage Rosette Measurements
For measured
x
,
y
,
x
at a known angle ,
solve for
xy

cos sin
sin cos
2 2
' y x x
xy

=

x
,
y
,
xy
are determined
Comparison of Measured and Predicted
Compliances
Experiments: bond strain gages on both surfaces
of laminate, then apply loads
Upper surface:
2
t
z =
= =
x x
U
x
t

2
0
measured strain along x
direction on upper surface
= =
y y
U
y
t

2
0
measured strain along y
direction on upper surface
(7.70)
(7.71)
16
Lower surface:
2
t
z =
= + =
x x
L
x
t

2
0
measured strain along x
direction on lower surface
= + =
y y
L
y
t

2
0
measured strain along y
direction on lower surface
(7.72)
(7.73)
Solve these 4 equations simultaneously for
y x y x
, , ,
0 0
For shear strains and twisting curvatures, ,
measure strains along 45
o
direction
0
xy

xy

cos sin sin cos

2 2
45
U
xy
U
y
U
x
U
+ + =
(7.74)
for , 45 =
solve for
U
xy

( )
U
y
U
x
U U
xy
+ =
45
2
(7.75)
Similarly, for lower surface
( )
L
y
L
x
L L
xy
+ =
45
2
(7.76)
then
xy xy
U
xy
t

2
0
=
(7.77)
(7.78)
xy xy
L
xy
t

2
0
+ =
solve for
0
xy
and
xy

17
Uniaxial Loading, N
x
N
x
0
0
= =

xy y
x
N N
N
x
x
N
A

=

'
11
(7.79)
0 = = =
xy y x
M M M
x
y
N
A

=

'
12
x
xy
N
A

=

'
16
x
x
N
B

= '
11
x
y
N
B

= '
12
x
xy
N
B

= '
16
Flexure Test, M
x
0
0
= =

xy y
x
M M
M
x
x
M
B

=

'
11
(7.80)
0 = = =
xy y x
N N N
x
y
M
B

=

'
12
x
xy
M
B

=

'
16
x
x
M
D

= '
11
x
y
M
D

= '
12
x
xy
M
D

= '
16
M
x
M
x
See Fig. 7.21. Good agreement with experiments
18
Measured and predicted compliances for glass/epoxy angle ply
laminates for various lamination angles. From Tsai, 1964.
Hygrothermal Effects in Laminates
For polymer matrix composites, the main effects
are:
1. degradation of properties
2. Changes in stress and strain distributions
Linear analyses:
Analyses based on separate treatment of
mechanical and hygrothermal effects no coupling
between effects. Coupling leads to nonlinear
equations.
Ex: Moisture diffusion increased by tensile stresses and
decreased by compressive stresses.
Also assume that the temperature and moisture
distributions in laminate are uniform.
19
Hygrothermal Degradation in Laminates
Use empirical equations to degrade matrix properties
(recall Equation (5.7)):
Then use degraded matrix property in
micromechanics equations to estimate degraded
lamina properties.
Degraded lamina properties used in laminate
equations to estimate degraded laminate properties.
Hygrothermal properties may also be degraded.
2
1

=
o go
gw
o
T T
T T
P
P
(5.7)
Hygrothermal Stresses in Laminates
Lamina stresses due to temperature and
moisture as the lamina interacts with adjacent
laminae.
Hygrothermal stresses arise not only in use,
but during fabrication.
Begin with equation for total strains in the k
th
lamina:
Resulting stresses are then
{ } [ ] { } { } { } c T S
k k k k k
+ + =
(7.81)
{ } [ ] { } { } { } ( ) c T Q
k k k k k
=
(7.82)
20
If the lamina is completely restrained by adjacent
laminae and { } 0 =
k

{ } [ ] { } { } ( ) c T Q
k k k k
=
(7.83)
In a laminate, however { } 0
k

Instead from classical lamination theory, we know

that
{ } { } { } z
k
+ =
(7.84)
Thus the laminahygrothermal stresses are,
{ } [ ] { } { } { } { } ( ) c T z Q
k k k k
+ =
(7.85)
To solve Equation (7.85), need to know
and , but the equation

M
N
D B
B A
1

Only includes mechanical loads {N} and

{M}, so we need to find a way to include
the hygrothermal loading.
{ }
{ }
21
Resultant forces acting on lamina
{ } { }

= dz N
k

(7.86)
{ } [ ] { } { } { } { } ( )

+ = dz c T z Q N
k k k

[ ]{ } [ ]{ } { } { }
M T
N N B A + =
Where the thermal forces are
{ } [ ] { } ( ) [ ] { } ( )

=

= =
N
k
k k k k k k
T
z z Q T Tdz Q N
1
1

(7.87)
and the hygroscopic forces are
{ } [ ] { } ( ) [ ] { } ( )

=

= =
N
k
k k k k k k
M
z z Q c cdz Q N
1
1

(7.88)
Similarly, the resultant moments are
{ } { }

= zdz M
k

(7.89)
[ ] { } { } { } { } ( )

+ = zdz c T z Q
k k k

[ ]{ } [ ]{ } { } { }
M T
M M D B + =
Where the thermal moments are
{ } [ ] { } [ ] { } ( )

= =
N
k
k k k k k k
T
z z Q
T
Tzdz Q M
1
2
1
2
2

(7.90)
and the hygroscopic moments are
{ } [ ] { } [ ] { } ( )

=

= =
N
k
k k k k k k
M
z z Q
c
czdz Q M
1
2
1
2
2

(7.91)
22
Rearranging (7.86) and (7.89),
{ } { } { } [ ]{ } [ ]{ } B A N N N
M T
+ = + +
(7.92)
and
{ } { } { } [ ]{ } [ ]{ } D B M M M
M T
+ = + +
(7.93)
or

D B
B A
M
N
E
E
(7.94)
Where the total effective forces are
{ } { } { } { }
M T E
N N N N + + =
(7.95)
{ } { } { } { }
M T E
M M M M + + =
(7.96)
Alternatively,

E
E
M
N
D B
B A
' '
' '

(7.97)
Thus, for known loads, temperatures and
moisture constants, we can find and
from (7.97), then find lamina stresses from
(7.85).
(See Example 7.9)
{ } { }
23
Laminate Hygrothermal Expansion
Coefficients
Ex: effective CTE along x direction:
T
x
x

=
0

(7.98)
For a symmetric laminate, B
ij
= 0, and
T
xy
T
y
T
x x
N A N A N A ' ' '
16 12 11
0
+ + =
(7.99)
where
{ } ( ) ( ) ( )

=

+ + =
N
k
k k
k
xy y x
T
z z Q Q Q T N
1
1 16 12 11

Note that T cancels out in Eq. (7.98), and that laminate CTE is
then related to lamina CTEs, lamina stiffnesses, laminate
compliances and laminate geometry.
Example: For graphite/epoxy and several other
types of composites,
1
<0 while
2
>0. Thus,
we can design a laminate to have by
selecting the proper ply orientations.
For angle ply laminate, calculate for given
T, then
T
x
x

=
0

Repeat calculation to find at which

and therefore, .

0
x

opt

0
0

0
x

0
x

24
0
x

opt

Note that this value of the optimum lamina

orientation is not necessarily the same as the
value found from the transformation equation
0 sin cos
2
2
2
1
= + =
x
Which is based on a single laminaat angle .
x
y
1
2

The value found by

opt

0
0
=

=
T
x
x

includes interactions with other laminae in

the angle ply laminate.

x
y