Combined Effects of Stress Concentration and Fatigue on the Reliability of Notched Laminates

Abstract

Composite laminates are used in structural applications such as aircraft wings and tail structures. Drilling holes and making cutouts in these laminates are unavoidable for practical reasons. As a result, stress concentration is introduced near the hole or cutout, and the load-bearing capacity of the structure is reduced. In addition, composite laminates used in aerospace applications are subjected to considerable fatigue loading due to service conditions. In composite laminates, fatigue causes reduction in stiffness and strength. The objective of the present work is to study the combined effect of stress concentration and fatigue on the composite laminate. Since composite laminate displays significant variation in material and strength properties, the stress distribution in the laminate is stochastic in nature. It is more appropriate to analyze the notched composite laminates using a stochastic approach and to design the laminate based on a reliability-based design approach. In the present work, such an approach is developed and the combined effect of stress concentration and fatigue on the reliability of the laminate is investigated.