The effects of residual stress on the non-linear behaviour of composite laminates Part I. Experimental results and residual-stress assessments

This paper reports an analysis of the effects of residual stress on the non -linear behaviour of a laminate resulting from the manufacturing process. P art I of the study addresses the manufactured specimen, residual-stress ass essment within laminate, and mechanical testing of non-linear behaviour. Th e manufactured specimens are tubes of lay-up [+phi,-phi](3). The residual s tresses are assessed by using an approach developed by Paul and Vautrin. Th e stacking sequences of laminates were chosen to obtain residual stress fie lds which would differ from one laminate to another. The non-linear behavio ur of laminate tubes was investigated under combined loading of tensile and internal pressure. The damage and plastic behaviour of this material are m odelled in part II. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.