Accepted Manuscript

Title: Stress analysis in FRP composites

Author: Nitin Jauhari Raghvendra Mishra Harischandra
Thakur
PII:
DOI:
Reference:

S2213-0209(16)30004-0
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.pisc.2016.03.004
PISC 152

To appear in:
Received date:
Accepted date:

3-1-2016
24-3-2016

Please cite this article as: Jauhari, N., Mishra, R.,

analysis
in
FRP
composites,
Perspectives
in
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pisc.2016.03.004

Thakur,
Science

H.,Stress
(2016),

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication.
As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript.
The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof
before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process
errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that
apply to the journal pertain.

Stress Analysis in FRP Composites

Nitin Jauhari1, Dr. Raghvendra Mishra2, Dr. Harischandra Thakur3

cr

ip
t

1 Assoc. Professor-ME Deptt., Inderprastha Engineering College,Ghaziabad-201005 Delhi

NCR, India
2 Assoc. Professor-ME Deptt., School Of Engineering, GBU, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Delhi
NCR, India
3 Asstt. Professor-ME Deptt., School Of Engineering, GBU, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Delhi
NCR, India

us

Mob: +91-9999019457, E-mail address: johri.nitin@gmail.com

Abstract

Ac
ce
p

te

an

A composite material, in mechanics sense, is a structure with the ingredients as element

transferring forces to adjacent members. The issue of defects and their effect on the
mechanical properties of composites is of great concern among high end users. Experimental
investigation of failure modes of composite materials requires correlating the fundamentals of
composite materials, their mechanical properties as well as their failure characteristics in the
presence of defects. In this paper, three formats of defects of hole (single , double &
quadruple) as a discontinuity were incorporated along with tensile testing. Unique failure
modes of these specimens provided overview regarding mechanical behavior of composite
materials containing defects. Certain correlations were observed between defects and
resulting properties. Results are in agreement with general behavior of FRP composite
laminates & it can be concluded that for low deformation in composite laminates, number of
layers must be increased, which at the same time results in increase of von-mises stress.
Fibres are the main constituents which are responsible for strength of a composite laminate &
along with fibre orientation, play an important role on its load bearing capacity . It can be
inferred based on analysis that, cross-ply configuration [0/90] has good load bearing
capacity as well as least deflection emphasizing more strength.
1. Introduction

FRPs during manufacture involve flaws or defects, which get introduced into the system &
may act as stress raisers or failure initiators. These factors are to be accounted for analyzing
mechanisms controlling the micro-failure of the composites , which is categorized as:
Fibre dominated failure - breakage, micro-buckling & dewetting
Bulk Matrix dominated failures- voids, crazing
Interface /flaw dominated failures crack propagation, edge delamination
Failure of FRP laminate is gradual. When a particular lamina fails in a laminate , a
redistribution of stresses takes place in the remaining laminae. Lamina strength which is
directionally dependant , is the basic element considered for the strength & failure analysis of
a laminate.

Page 1 of 5

Nomenclature:

cr

ip
t

E1 = Longitudinal Elastic modulus

E2 or E3 = Transverse Elastic modulus
G12 or G23 or G13 = In plane Modulus of Rigidity
12 or 23 or 13 = In plane Poissons Ratio
= Density

1 Finite Element Model

us

A simply supported square plate is considered with dimensions: ax= ay=2000 mm, thickness t
= 10mm laminated with AS4D/9310 [Table 2] in a [0/90]n configuration. Center deflection

an

perpendicular to the plate surface when the number of layers is n = 1, 5, 10 , needs to be

tabulated. The plate is loaded in compression with an edge load Nx= -1 N/mm . [6]

Table 1 Material Properties- AS4D/9310

Property [1]
AS4D/9310[1]
[GPa]

E2 = E3

[GPa]

7.706

G12 = G13 [GPa]

4.306

te

E1

133.86

[GPa]

2.76

12 = 13

[GPa]

0.301

Ac
ce
p

G23

23

[GPa]

0.396

[g/cc]

1.52

F1T

[MPa]

1830

F1C

[MPa]

1096

F2T = F3T [MPa]

57

F2C = F3C [MPa]

228

F6

[MPa]

71

A model of composite laminate [0/90]n for AS4D/9310 is modelled & simulated using Ansys
R14.5 , with simply supported compressive loading value of Nx=-1 N/mm. For different
values of n (1,5,10) , Center deflection perpendicular to the plate surface is tabulated &
verified with the results.

Page 2 of 5

ip
t
cr
us
an

Ac
ce
p

te

Fig. 1 (Simply Supported Laminate[0/90]1- Vertical Deformation & Equivalent/Von-Mises Stress)

Fig.2 (Simply Supported Laminate[0/90]5 -Vertical Deformation & Equivalent/Von-Mises Stress)

Page 3 of 5

ip
t
cr
us
an

Fig.3 (Simply Supported Laminate[0/90]10 - Vertical Deformation & Equivalent/Von-Mises Stress)

[0/90]1

Ac
ce
p

Laminate

te

S.No.

Table 2: Comparative Analysis

Vertical

Equivalent

Deformation(Max)

Stress(Max)

.089077 mm

0.19072 Mpa

[0/90]5

0.0074507 mm

0.23033 Mpa

[0/90]10

0.0036527 mm

0.24406MPa

2 Results & Discussions:

As per the results of FEM analysis & Mode shape analysis, it is seen that increase in the
number of layers in a simply supported antisymmetric cross-ply laminate [0/90]n, results in
decreased maximum vertical deflection (at the centre), & increased maximum equivalent
stress(von-mises) stress, as the layers in laminate vary from 2 to10 & 20 respectively. Table
2, shows comparative analysis of vertical deflection & equivalent (von-mises) stress as
per Fig. 1,2,3. It is quite evident that for simply supported anti-symmetric cross-ply laminates
[0/90]n , the maximum vertical deflection decreases, whereas the equivalent (von-mises)
stress shows an increase on variation of number of lamina from 2 to 10 to 20. This gives the

Page 4 of 5

conclusion that for reducing deformation in composite laminates, number of layers must be
increased, which at the same time results in increase of equivalent/von-mises stress.
3 Conclusion
Results are in agreement with general behaviour of FRP composite laminates & it can be

ip
t

concluded that: for reducing deformation in composite laminates, number of layers must be
increased, which at the same time results in increase of von-mises stress . Fibres are the main
constituents which are responsible for strength of a composite laminate & along with fibre

cr

orientation , play an important role on its load bearing capacity. It can be inferred based on
analysis that, cross-ply configuration [0/90] has good load bearing capacity. Also for the

us

same load, plate with cross-ply configuration has the least deflection which emphasizes more
strength compared to other stacking sequences. Plate with discontinuities/holes, have reduced

an

load bearing capacity & increased deformation on account of reduction in strength due to
material removal.

Acknowledgements

Author expresses gratitude to his research guides Dr. Raghvendra Kumar Mishra
(Assoc. Professor ,SOE, Gautam Buddha University) & co-guide Dr. Harishchandra

Thakur (Asstt. Professor ,SOE, Gautam Buddha University) for

guidance on

te

analytical work using ANSYS & acknowledges the support of GBU, Gautam Buddh

Ac
ce
p

Nagar(U.P) and IPEC , Ghaziabad (U.P) for funding the current research in this area.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

References:
Zhen Wu, Stress Analysis of laminated composite plates with a circular hole
according to a single-layer higher order model, Composite Structures 2009; 90: 122129.
M.Murat Arslan, Effect of Circular Holes on Cross-Ply Laminated Composite Plates,
Arabian Journal for Science & Engineering, Vol. 34 No. 2B, 2008
Manoharan R, Stress & Load-Displacement Analysis of Fibre- Reinforced Composite
Laminates with a Circular Hole Under Compressive Load, ARPN Journal of
Engineering & Applied Sciences, Vol.6, No.4, 2011
Wen-Shyong Kuo, Failure Behavior of three-axis woven carbon/carbon composites
under compressive & transverse shear loads, Composites Science & Technology 62,
2002.
Hakim S. Sultan Aljibori, Load-Displacement behaviour of glass fibre/epoxy
composite plates with circular cut-outs subjected to compressive load, Materials &
design 31, 2010
Ever J.Barbero, Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials ,CRC Press, 2014.
Buket Okutan Baba, Buckling Characteristics of Symmetrically & AntiSymmetrically
Laminated Composite Plates with Central Cutout, Appl Compos Mater, 2007.

Page 5 of 5