Comparative applicability of strength of materials approach to laminated composites with glass and carbon fibre prepregs

Abstract Laminated composites are used in various fields for excellent properties. Study of their failure characteristics is essential in engineering. Applicability of strength of materials (SOM) approach in analysing failures and designing laminated composites with glass and carbon prepregs have been investigated through computational method. Glass fibre (GF) and carbon fibre (CF) prepreg reinforced polymeric laminas were modelled and analysed under tensile load with fixed-free boundary conditions applied at two ends. Unidirectional (UD) fibre was chosen for UD laminas form the mathematical foundation of all laminated composite analyses. Tensile loads of 1N to 5N were applied at free end with an increment of 1N. In both cases, deflections and strains were non-uniform along the length, maximum near loading-point while reducing towards the fixed end in a stepped manner. This characteristic of laminated composite is different from that of conventional materials like steel or aluminium in which uniform stress and strain is assumed throughout the length in applying SOM approach. It indicates that although SOM approach is essential for some important components design, is not sufficient for analysis and design of GF or CF prepreg reinforced laminated composite components and demands for different approach for analysis and design of such composite parts.