ESDU Composites Series

These Sections provide a rapidly growing collection of data for use in the design of fibre-reinforced laminated composite materials. The information is provided primarily for use in aerospace, but has wide application to other areas of engineering where composite materials offer benefits.

The Sections contain the solutions to many strength analysis problems met in the design of fibre-reinforced laminated composite structures. These include failure criteria, plate vibration and buckling, analysis of bonded joints, and stress concentrations, in addition to the calculation of basic stiffnesses and stresses including built-in thermal stresses.

Laminated composites can be specified in very many forms and assembled in a multitude of lay-up arrangements. Because of this complexity the only practical form in which many of the solutions can be provided is as a computer program, and Fortran programs are provided for many of the analysis methods. In addition to the freedom to change the overall geometry the designer in composites has the freedom to arrange the material strength and/or stiffness to meet the local loading. This complicates the design process and it is often difficult to select a route to the best combination of geometry and material. The Sections contain guidance on the factors influencing the design and suggest methods of achieving the desired solution.