THE EFFECTS OF MOISTURE UPON THE OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE PATH OF THE VISCOELASTIC SYMMETRICAL COMPOSITE LAMINATES AFTER POST CURE

Inheriting previous studies on the optimal cool-down path of the compo site laminate, this article incorporates the consideration of a new el ement-humidity-to analyze the residual stresses which develop in a com posite material laminate after termination of cool down due to further exposure to humid environment. Computations are performed for AS4/350 2 symmetric balanced cross ply laminate. Hygrothermorheologically simp le material viscoelastic behavior and the constant expansion coefficie nts of temperature and moisture are considered and an optimal temperat ure path is obtained with the aid of variations to yield the minimal v alue for the average residual stress within the laminate.