MULTILAYER HIGHER-ORDER FINITE-ELEMENTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FREE-EDGESTRESSES IN COMPOSITE LAMINATES

The analysis of the free-edge stress distributions in composite lamina tes under-uniaxial tension is approached by a finite element technique based on a multi-layer higher-order laminate theory. Several finite e lements corresponding to different through-thickness assumed distribut ions of the displacement unknowns are developed. Numerous stacking seq uences are examined in the applications. The results are compared with the ones obtained by various investigators with other modelling appro aches. The use of the proposed technique is demonstrated to be simple and effective both for the analysis of in-plane and out-of-plane distr ibutions of intralaminar and, noticeably, interlaminar stress componen ts. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.