Abstract:

A computer program is provided for the estimation of r.m.s. surface strains in rectangular laminated skin panels. It applies to specially-orthotropic plates having principal axes of orthotropy parallel to the plate edges. A precise definition of this class of plates is given in ESDU 83035. The calculation procedure is particularly applicable to fibre-reinforced composite laminated plates. The computer program evaluates r.m.s. strains parallel to the shorter (or curved edge, if the plate is curved) at the mid points of the longer edges and at the plate centre. The analysis is a simplified normal mode method assuming a single mode (fundamental) response but uses empirically derived correction factors. A good correlation is shown between predictions using the method and available experimental results extracted from the literature. The program is provided as ESDUpac A8408.