Integral equation approach to composite laminate analysis

A comprehensive integral equation based approach is presented to determine the elastic response of composite laminates tinder axial, bending, shear/be nding and torsional loadings. The integral equations governing the laminate behavior are directly deduced from the reciprocity theorem for beam-type s tructures by employing the fundamental solution of generalized plain strain anistropic problems Taking into account the displacement and stress contin uity along the interfaces and the external boundary conditions the formulat ion is numerically solved by the multidomain boundary element method. The r esolving system of linear algebraic equations is solved to provide the solu tion of the problem in terms of displacements and tractions on the boundary of each ply within the laminate. Once this boundary elastic response is de termined the displacements and stresses at any point of the laminate can be computed using the appropriate boundary integral representations. The appr oach, based on a pointwise formulation, makes it possible to analyze lamina tes with the widest generalities as regards the section shape and lay-up. S ome applications are presented in order to demonstrate the accuracy and eff ectiveness of the method proposed.