Stiffness analysis of symmetric cross-ply laminated composite plates

Abstract

Stiffness of a cross-ply laminated composite plate has been investigated with aspect ratios (AR) for different orientation sequences of laminate using finite element method (FEM). A simply supported plate with uniform distributed load has been considered for present analysis. A MATLAB code has been developed to find out the deflection of the laminated composite plates. The same has also been analyzed using ANSYS software. The computational results have been compared with the theoretical results (classical lamination theory) and a good agreement has been found. When number of lamina is increased with 90 degree domination or decreased with 0degree domination under the condition AR less than 1 and increased with 0degree domination or decreased with 90 degree domination under the condition AR greater than 1, higher stiffness was observed.

Keywords: Laminated composites plates, classical lamination theory, finite element analysis, stiffness