Multicoupled Hybrid Laminates with Extension–Shear Coupling

Abstract

The optimal design of laminates of interlayer hybrid lamination with multicouplings is significantly beneficial to enhance the mechanical properties and reduce the cost of composite structures. The conditions of the hygrothermal stability of interlayer hybrid laminates are derived, which are suitable for most elastic materials. Three types of multicoupled interlayer hybrid laminates capable of constituting self-adaptive structures with extension–shear coupling are designed. An example of 18–22 plies laminates is chosen to realize the optimization of maximum extension–shear coupling by the Differential Evolution algorithm. The influences of multicouplings on the mechanical properties of structures are analyzed, including hygrothermal stability, extension–shear coupling, yield load, and buckling load. The feasibility of stacking sequences and effectiveness of the mechanical properties are verified, respectively, through the robustness analysis and finite element method numerical simulation. Based on the Monte Carlo method, the robustness analysis caused by angular deviation is achieved for hybrid laminates, and the confidence intervals are obtained.