3-DIMENSIONAL STRESS-ANALYSIS OF FREE-EDGE EFFECTS IN A SIMPLE COMPOSITE CROSS-PLY LAMINATE

A new model has been developed to analyze the free-edge effect in a sy mmetric cross-ply laminate. This new technique involves a three-dimens ional finite element analysis that divulges the stress field at the fr ee edge of a simple composite plate of finite dimensions. Three-dimens ional 20-node quadratic brick elements were used to simulate the compo site laminate. The cross-ply laminate is subjected to uniaxial tensile strain. The advantages of the ''Slice Model Setup'' are demonstrated in terms of computer time and memory. The slice model has been develop ed to simulate the actual case, and anticipated stress singularities h ave therefore not been induced artificially by using singular elements . The state of stress is determined and the results are favorably comp ared to the results of others found in the literature. The effect of t hickness and width of a simple composite plate on the magnitude of str ess at the free edge is also investigated. The purpose of the slice mo del is to create a reasonable finite element model whose state of stre ss can undergo failure analysis and whose elements can permit the use of property degradation techniques. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by El sevier Science Ltd.