1

Deflection and Buckling of

Laminates
Transverse deflections generally much
larger than in plane deflections
Buckling is an instability under in plane
compressive or shear loading
Equations used in both cases are similar
Stress resultants and external loads acting on laminate.
(From Halpin, 1984.)
2
0 =
x
F
dxdy
y
N
dx N dxdy
x
N
dy N
xy
xy
x
x

+ +

+
0 = dx N dy N
xy x
(7.119)
Equation (7.119) may be simplified as
0 =

y
N
x
N
xy
x
(7.120)
The summation of forces along the y direction yields
0 =
y
F
dxdy
x
N
dy N dxdy
y
N
dx N
xy
xy
x
y

+ +

+
0 = dy N dx N
xy y
(7.121)
0 =

y
N
x
N
xy
x
(7.122)
or
The summation of forces along the z direction gives
0 =
z
F
y
Q
dx Q dxdy
x
Q
dy Q
y
y
x
x

+ +

+
( ) 0 , = + y x q dx Q dy Q
y x
(7.123)
3
or
( ) 0 , = +

y x q
y
Q
x
Q
y
x
(7.124)
The summation of moments about the x axis yields
0 =
x
M
dxdy Q dxdy
x
M
dy M dydx
y
M
dx M
y
xy
xy
y
y
+

( ) 2 / 2 / , dydy Q dxdydy y x q dydxdy
y
Q
x
y
+ +

+
0 2 / 2 / = + +

+ dydy Q dy M dx M dxdydy
x
Q
x xy x
x
(7.125)
The summation of moments about the y axis gives
0 =
y
M
x
xy
x
Q
y
M
x
M
=

(7.127)
Substitution of Eqs. (7.126) and (7.127) in Eq. (7.124)
yields
( ) 0 , 2
2
2 2
2
2
= +

y x q
y
M
y x
M
x
M
y xy
x
(7.128)
4
These are the differential equations of equilibrium
of the plate in terms of stress and moment
resultants.
The corresponding equilibrium equations in terms
of displacements can be derived by substituting in
the laminate force deformation equations, the
strain displacement relations, and the curvature
displacement equations
The resulting equations are,
2
0 2
16
2
0 2
66
0 2
16
2
0 2
11
2
x
v
A
y
u
A
y x
u
A
x
u
A

( )
y x
w
B
x
w
B
y
v
A
y x
v
A A

+ +
2
3
16
3
3
11
2
0 2
26
0 2
66 12
3
( ) 0 2
3
3
26
2
3
66 12
=

+
y
w
B
y x
w
B B
(7.129)
5
( )
2
0 2
66
2
0 2
26
0 2
66 12
2
0 2
16
x
v
A
y
u
A
y x
u
A A
x
u
A

+ +

3
3
16
2
0 2
22
0 2
26
2
x
w
B
y
v
A
y x
v
A

+
( ) 0 3 2
3
3
22
2
3
26
2
3
66 12
=

+
y
w
B
y x
w
B
y x
w
B B
(7.130)
( )
2 2
4
66 12
3
4
16
4
4
11
2 2 4
y x
w
D D
y x
w
D
x
w
D

+ +

y x
u
B
x
u
B
y
w
D
y x
w
D

+
2
0 3
16
3
0 3
11
4
4
22
3
4
26
3 4
( )
3
0 3
16
3
0 3
26
2
0 3
66 12
2
x
v
B
y
u
B
y x
u
B B

+
(7.131)
( ) ( ) y x q
y
v
B
y x
v
B
y x
v
B B , 3 2
3
0 3
22
2
0 3
26
2
0 3
66 12
=

+
Note: when B
ij
=0, the transverse displacements w are decoupled
from the in plane displacements u and v
6
For symmetric laminates with B
ij
=0, Eq. (7.131)
alone becomes the governing equation for transverse
bending displacements.
The governing partial differential equations must be
solved subject to the appropriate boundary
conditions. In the general case, when the in plane
displacements are coupled with the transverse
displacements, the boundary conditions must reflect
this.
Here we will restrict the discussion to bending of
symmetric laminated plates. That is, we will only
consider transverse bending displacements according
to Eq. (7.131) with all B
ij
=0.
Consider the case of transverse deflection of a
rectangular specially orthotropic plate which is
simply supported on all edges and loaded with
a distributed load, q(x,y). For this case, all of
theB
ij
=0. Also A
16
=A
26
=D
16
=D
26
=0 and
Eq. (7.131) becomes
( ) ( ) y x q
y
w
D
y x
w
D D
x
w
D , 2 2
4
4
22
2 2
4
66 12
4
4
11
=

+ +

(7.132)
7
Simply supported, specially orthotropic plate with
distributed loading.
For the simply supported boundary
condition the transverse displacements and
bending moments must vanish at the edges.
In order to use the bending moment
boundary conditions to solve the differential
equation for displacements, however, the
bending moments must be expressed in
terms of displacements.
2
2
12
2
2
11 12 11
y
w
D
x
w
D D D M
y x x

= + =
(7.133)
2
2
22
2
2
12 22 12
y
w
D
x
w
D D D M
y x y

= + =
(7.134)
8
Thus, along x = 0 and x = a,
w = 0
and
0
2
2
12
2
2
11
=

=
y
w
D
x
w
D M
x
(7.135)
and along y = 0 and y = b,
w = 0
and
0
2
2
22
2
2
12
=

=
y
w
D
x
w
D M
y
(7.136)
The simplest solution involves the use of double
Fourier sine series to represent both the load
q(x, y) and the displacements w(x,y). If the
load can be represented as
( )

=
=
1 1
sin sin ,
m n
mn
b
y n
a
x m
q y x q

(7.137)
then it can be shown that the differential equation
and the boundary conditions are satisfied by
solutions of the form
( )

=
=
1 1
sin sin ,
m n
mn
b
y n
a
x m
w y x w

(7.138)
9
Substitution of Eqs. (7.138) and (7.137) in Eq. (7.132)
( )
mn
q
y
w
D
y x
w
D D
x
w
D =

+ +

4
4
22
2 2
4
66 12
4
4
11
2 2
And taking the indicated derivatives:
( )
mn mn
q D
b
n
b
n
a
m
D D D
a
m
w =

+ +

22
4 2 2
66 12 11
4
2 2

Note that all sine terms like and
cancel out on both sides, so that the deflection is
a
x m
sin
b
y n
sin
( )( ) ( ) ( )
4
22
2
66 12
4
11
4
4
2 2 nR D mnR D D m D
q a
w
mn
mn
+ + +
=

(7.139)
where the plate aspect ratio R = a/b. The Fourier
coefficients q
mn
can be found for the particular assumed
load distribution.
10
For the uniform load q(x, y) =q
0
, a constant, it can be
shown that the Fourier coefficients are
mn
q
q
mn
2
0
16

=
for
,... 5 , 3 , 1 , = n m
(7.140)
and
0 =
mn
q ,... 6 , 4 , 2 , = n m
for
Boundary conditions for the specially
orthotropic plate are satisfied by assumed
solution of the form
( )

=
=
1 1
sin sin ,
m n
mn
b
y n
a
x m
w y x w

11
Proof:
( ) 0 , 0 = y w
b
y n
a
x m
sin sin
because
( )
0
0
sin =
a
m
( ) 0 , = y a w because
( )
0 sin =
a
a m
( ) 0 , 0 = y M
x
since both
2
2
2
2
y
w
x
w

contain
same for
( ) 0 , = y a M
x
( ) 0 0 , = x M
y
( ) 0 , = b x M
y
( ) 0 0 , = x w
( ) 0 , = b x w
However, for a symmetric angle ply
laminate, the differential equation is
( )
2 2
4
66 12
3
4
16
4
4
11
2 2 4
y x
w
D D
y x
w
D
x
w
D

+ +

( ) y x q
y
w
D
y x
w
D , 4
4
4
22
3
4
26
=

+
Boundary conditions.:
along x = 0 and x = a, we must have
w = 0
0 2
2
16
2
2
12
2
2
11
=

=
y x
w
D
y
w
D
x
w
D M
x
12
and along y =0 and y = b, we must have
w = 0
0 2
2
26
2
2
22
2
2
12
=

=
y x
w
D
y
w
D
x
w
D M
y

a solution of the form

( )

=
=
1 1
sin sin ,
n m
mn
b
y n
a
x m
w y x w

will not satisfy the diff. eqns. or the boundary
conditions since all terms in the resulting
equations do not contain the same sin or cos
functions as in specially orthotropic case
Buckling Analysis
Differential element of laminate in out of plane position
for buckling analysis
13
The summation of forces in the z direction
now becomes
0 =
z
F
( ) 0 2 ,
2
2 2
2
2
=

+ +

y
w
N
y x
w
N
x
w
N y x q
y
Q
x
Q
y xy x
y
x
(7.141)
Note new terms due to
in-plane forces
Note same terms that appeared in
equation for tranverse displacements
Substitution of Eqs. (7.141), (7.29), and (7.30)
in Eq. (7.142) yields the equation,
2
2 2
2
2
2
y
M
y x
M
x
M
y xy
x

( ) 0 , 2
2
2 2
2
2
= +

+ y x q
y
w
N
y x
w
N
x
w
N
y xy x
(7.142)
Combining Eqs. (7.141), (7.126), and (7.127),
we find that
Note new terms due to
in-plane forces
14
( )
2 2
4
66 12
3
4
16
4
4
11
2 2 4
y x
w
D D
y x
w
D
x
w
D

+ +

y x
u
B
x
u
B
y
w
D
y x
w
D

+
2
0 3
16
3
0 3
11
4
4
22
3
4
26
3 4
( )
3
0 3
16
3
0 3
26
2
0 3
66 12
2
x
v
B
y
u
B
y x
u
B B

+
(7.143)
( )
3
0 3
22
2
0 3
26
2
0 3
66 12
3 2
y
v
B
y x
v
B
y x
v
B B

+
( )
2
2 2
2
2
2 ,
y
w
N
y x
w
N
x
w
N y x q
y xy x

+ =
New terms due to in-plane forces
We now consider the case of buckling of a rectangular,
simply supported, specially orthotropic plate under a
single compressive axial load, N
x
=- N. In this case the
loads N
y
= N
xy
= q(x, y) =0, all B
ij
=0, the stiffnesses
A
16
=A
26
=D
16
=D
26
=0 and Eq. (7.143) becomes
( )
2
2
4
4
22
2 2
4
66 12
4
4
11
2 2
x
w
N
y
w
D
y x
w
D D
x
w
D

+ +

(7.144)
15
Simply supported, specially orthotropic plate under
compressive uniaxial in plane loading
For the simply supported boundary condition
described previously by Eqs. (7.135) and
(7.136) we may assume a solution of the form
( )
b
y n
a
x m
w y x w
mn

sin sin , =
The mode shape for a particular buckling mode
is described by the subscripts m and n since m
is the number of half sine waves along the x
direction and n is the number of half sine
waves along the y direction.
(7.145)
16
Substitution of this solution in the governing
differential equation (7.144) leads to the equation
( )( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]
4
22
2
66 12
4
11
2
2 2 bR D mnR D D m D w
mn
+ + +
2 2
m Na w
mn
=
(7.146)
where again R = a/b. This equation has the trivial
solution w
mn
=0, which is of no interest. For
nontrivial solutions the critical buckling load must
be
( )( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]
4
22
2
66 12
4
11
2 2
2
2 2 bR D mnR D D m D
m a
N
cr
+ + + =

(7.147)
where the smallest buckling load occurs for n = 1, and the lowest
value of the load corresponding to a particular value of m can only
be determined if the D
ij
and the dimensions a and b are known. As
shown in Fig.
n =1 for all curves
Comparison of
predicted and
measured normalized
buckling load, N
x
b
2
,
vs. plate aspect ratio,
a/b, for [0
12
]
graphite/epoxy
laminates.
(From Hatcher and Tuttle, 1991)
17
Measurement of Buckling Load, N
cr
Apply compressive in plane load N and measure
out of plane displacement

N
N
Difficult to simulate hinged boundary
conditions
Measurement of N
cr
not very precise

N
N
cr
onset of buckling
at critical load
18
N
xy
N
xy
Shear Buckling - buckling of thin panels can be caused
by shear forces as well as by compressive forces
Design with Metals
Look up material properties in handbook
properties are same for all configurations
Part is made by cutting a piece of material
down to the desired size and shape
19
Design with Composites
Too many possible combinations (fiber,
matrix, lamina orientations, stacking
sequence, etc.) for hand book tabulation of
material properties - use computer software
or carpet plots
Part is made by building up the material to
the desired size and shape
Micromechanics
Lamina Properties
Laminate Properties
Design
Ply Orientations
and
Stacking Sequence
20
Analysis and Design of Laminates
Analysis
Given a composite laminate and allowable
ply stresses, determine the load that it will
support, or given the laminate, loads and
properties, determine the stresses and strains
(unique solution)
Design
Given a set of loads and other design
constraints, select the materials and laminate
configuration to withstand the loads (infinite
number of solutions which may or may not be
optimized for a given design variable).





Design Criteria Associated Failure Modes
Strength Fracture (either partial or complete)
Stiffness Excessive deformation
Stability Buckling
Hygrothermal Effects Property degradation, expansion and
contraction, residual stresses
Life, or Durability Fatigue, Creep
Weight Heavier than conventional design
Cost Not affordable
Manufacturability Impractical to build, warping due to
residual stresses

21
Key to Design of Efficient Laminates
Laminate must resist both magnitude and
directional nature of loads while satisfying
other design constraints as well.
Ex:















(a) Cross plies required (b) Angleplies required
to resist biaxial loads to resist shear loads






Two bounds on laminate design:
Unidirectional and quasi isotropic cases
Example: Uniaxial Loading, N
x
N
x
N
x

=off axis laminate extensional stiffness

11 A
22
90
0
11 A
Unidirectional
Quasi - isotropic
Two bounds on laminate design:
Unidirectional and quasi isotropic cases
Example: Shear Loading, N
xy
=off axis laminate extensional stiffness
66 A

N
xy
N
xy
23

90
0
66 A
Unidirectional
Quasi - isotropic
45
Example:
An existing power transmission shaft consists of ahollow compositetube, and thetube
wall is afilament wound quasi-isotropic [60/0/60]
s
laminateof thickness t. A new shaft
of thesame wall thickness t is to bedesigned fromthesame lamina material, but thenew
laminateis to havea shear stiffness greater than that of the existing shaft. Over what
rangeof angles will a[+/-/-]
s
angle-ply laminateachievethis design objective?










Theshear stiffness of the new angle-ply laminateis



3
2
) (
3
) ( ) (
66 66
2 /
2 /
66 66
t
Q
t
Q dz Q A
t
t
ap +

+ = =

T
+

-
24
Recallingthat thelaminastiffnessescanbeexpressedintermsof invariantsas

4 cos
2
3
4 1
66
U
U U
Q

=

andthat cos4 =cos(-4), thenewlaminatestiffnesscanbewrittenas

4 cos
2
3
2
) 4 cos(
2 3
4 cos
2
) (
3
4 1
3
4 1
3
4 1
66
t U t
U U
t
U
U U t
U
U U
A
ap

=


Theshear stiffness of aquasi-isotropic laminateis


t
U U
A
QI
2
) (
4 1
66

=


Thereforetheshear stiffness of thenew laminatecan beexpressed as


4 cos ) ( ) (
3 66 66
t U A A
QI ap
=

25
Thevariations of
ap
A ) (
66 and
QI
A ) (
66
with areshownbelow, whereit canbeseenthat


QI ap
A A ) ( ) (
66 66
> for angles intherange
o o
5 . 67 5 . 22























QI
A ) (
66
ap
A ) (
66

0
o
45
o
90
o
22.5
o
67.5
o

66
A
Example: Stiffness-critical design where
deflection must be limited for some reason
26
( )

=
=
1 1
sin sin ,
m n
mn
b
y n
a
x m
w y x w

Deflection of simply supported orthotropic plate
where
( )( ) ( ) ( )
4
22
2
66 12
4
11
4
4
2 2 nR D mnR D D m D
q a
w
mn
mn
+ + +
=

and maximum deflectionis w(a/2, b/2)

Example of strength-critical design where
stresses must be limited according to some
failure theory:
filament wound composite pressure vessel
must be designed to withstand some internal
pressure from stored gas or fluid
27
Procedure:
1. For an assumed laminate design, find
engineering constants for the plies, E
1
, E
2
,
G
12
,
12
, then calculate the Q
ij
, for plies.
2. Using ply orientation, calculate
3. Using ply stacking sequence and ply
thicknesses, calculate laminate stiffnesses,
A
ij
, B
ij
, D
ij
4. Form stiffness matrix and invert
ij
Q
5. Find strains and curvatures from
6. Find lamina stresses from
7. Apply failure criterion to check design
8. Repeat Steps 1-7 until suitable design is
found

M
N
D B
B A
1

{ } [ ] { } { } ( ) z Q
k k
+ =
28
Carpet Plots
Convenient graphical representation showing
how a given laminate property depends on the
percentages of the plies at various ply
orientations.
To generate carpet plots, the ply orientations
must be restricted to certain angles, such as
. 90
, 0
, 45

Carpet plots for [0

i
/ 45
j
/90
k
] Kevlar/epoxy laminates. From
Peters, et al., 1991 Reprinted by permission of the society for
the Advancement of Material and Process engineering.
29

Carpet plots for [0

i
/ 45
j
/90
k
] Kevlar/epoxy laminates. From
Peters, et al., 1991 Reprinted by permission of the society for
the Advancement of Material and Process engineering.
Ex: Kevlar/epoxy to have E
x
=30 GPa
Several possibilities, such as
(1)

90 @ % 0
45 @ % 70
0 @ % 30
(2)

90 @ % 65
45 @ % 0
0 @ % 35
30
(3)

90 @ % 50
45 @ % 20
0 @ % 30
If G
xy
>=5 GPa, must have at least
and and plies make no difference.
45 @ % 20
0 90
Thus, only designs (1) and (3) would satisfy both
constraints.
Composite Analysis Software
Micromechanics
Laminate analysis
Failure theories
Buckling analysis
Hygrothermal analysis
Structural analysis (stiffeners, sandwiches)
Optimization
31
Composite Laminate Analysis Software


ASCA
AdTechSystems Research, Inc., 1342 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek, OH 45432-2698,
webaddress: http://www.adtechsystems.com/

CompositePro
Peak CompositeInnovations LLC, 11372 W. Parkhill Drive, Littleton, CO 80127, web
address: http://borderworlds.com/compositepro/

FiberSim
Vistagy, Inc., 486 TottenPond Road, Waltham, MA 02451-1917, webaddress:
http://www.vistagy.com/index.htm

HyperSizer
Collier Research, Harbour Centre, 2 EatonStreet, Suite504, Hampton, VA 23669, web
address: http://www.collier-research.com/

LAP
AnaglyphLtd, Suite33, 10 Barley Mow Passage, LondonW4 4PH, United Kingdom,
webaddress: http://www.anaglyph.co.uk/

Mic-Mac Lite
Think Composites, 101 AlmaStreet, #703, Palo Alto, CA 94301, webaddress:
http://www.thinkcomp.com/

The Laminator
webaddress: http://www.thelaminator.net/

V-Lab
Applied ResearchAssociates, Inc., Southeast Division, 811 Spring Forest Road, Suite
100, Raleigh, NC 27609, webaddress: http://www.ara.com/v-lab.htm




Design Guides
Composite Materials Handbook MIL 17
3 volumes +CD ROM, published by
Technomic Pub. Co., 1990. Available
for check out at WSU Science and
Engineering Library Reserve Desk
Composites Engineering Handbook,
P. K. Mallick, Editor, published by Marcel
Dekker, Inc., 1997
32
Design Allowables
Allowable values of mechanical properties
such as strength and modulus, based on
statistical analysis of test data.
A basis allowable 99% of test data
should exceed this allowable value with
95% confidence.
B basis allowable 90% of test data
should exceed this allowable value with
95% confidence.



Do not forget the secondary stresses!!!
Example: composite linkage delamination due to
interlaminar stresses, even though load is axial
Interlaminar stresses around
edges of holes
Load
33
Interlaminar Stresses in
Unidirectional Composites
Example: through the thickness stresses at root of notch
combined with low transverse strength of unidirectional
composite cause transverse tensile failure at root of notch















Transverse
cracks in
wall of
vessel due
to bending
Transverse cracking of filament wound pressure
vessel at edge of metal end cap
Filament wound
cylindrical
pressure vessel
Metal end cap
Internal
pressure
Deformed
shape