On the methodologies of stress analysis of composite structures

Abstract

Abstract The rapidly increasing technological importance of composite materials and composite structures is leading to the development of new, more advanced models of their actual response to mechanical and thermal loads. This in turn results in the development of new experimental and analytical methods for determination of the mechanical and thermal responses of such structures and materials to various loads. In this respect the reliability and the predictive power of various methods and techniques of stress analysis become very important since all the analytical, experimental and numerical methods used for the determination, prediction and optimization of the actual mechanical responses of composite structures and materials are based on the concepts of strain and stress. Because of the inherently three-dimensional stress and strain states in composite materials and structures and the wide use of viscoelastic polymers as the matrix and some reinforcing fiber materials, a more rigorous type of modelling than had been common in the past is needed of all the involved physical phenomena which influence the strain and stress states at the local and global levels. Also, a more rigorous analysis of practical consequences of the physical and mathematical simplifications is required to assure reliability and accuracy of various methods of stress analysis. The influence of the above-mentioned factors on the reliability and applicability of analytical and experimental procedures is illustrated by examples of actual material responses. Part 2 of this paper presents theories and techniques of three new methods of strain/stress analysis which have been developed on the basis of comprehensive physical models of involved phenomena: the isodyne, strain gradient and thermoelastic effect methods. Presented examples illustrate the efficacy of these methods.