Random field formulation of composite laminates

A numerical simulation algorithm is developed in the present paper in order to characterize the random strength distribution of a batch of composite l aminates. The program is based on the assumption that the axial, transverse and shear strengths of the composite lamina are statistically characterize d by two-dimensional random fields. Monte Carlo method is employed to gener ate these strengths. When loading is applied to the composite laminate, the resultant stresses are then compared with the generated strengths of the l amina based on Tsai-Hill or Tsai-Wu criterion. The strength of the laminate is then determined. Owing to the random strength distributions of the lami na, the strength of the composite laminate is also statistically distribute d which can provide useful information on the reliability assessment of a s tructure or component made of the laminate. In order to verify the above si mulation algorithm, experimental work is conducted in the present study. It is found that the proposed simulation algorithm can adequately capture the behavior of the experimental result. It is also concluded that, for the st rength of the studied laminates, both the numerical simulation and experime ntal results can be fitted well by the normal probability density function. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.