Hygrothermal effect on the large deflection bending of asymmetric PMC laminates

Effects of hygrothermal conditions on the large deflection bending of asymm etric PMC laminates have been studied for the case of cylindrical bending, with two different stacking sequences of the laminae. The results are compa red to those from linear theory. The hygrothermal effect is incorporated in the present analysis by adjusting the stiffness coefficients of the lamina te according to its level of moisture concentration and temperature, using the empirical relations of Chamis [5]. A glass/epoxy composite system is ch osen for the study. but similar results may be expected for other PMC syste ms also. Changes in the stiffness coefficients of a laminate. due to hygrot hermal conditioning, do not appear to affect the large deflection results a s significantly; as in the case of linear analysis.