Optimum design of laminated composite structures

The optimum design of laminated composite structures in terms of their strength is a complex task because many different mechanisms are involved in the damage and rupture to which these materials are subject. The great diversity of the damage mechanisms and their patterns of evolution makes it extremely difficult to estimate the strength margins. It is still impossible, for instance, to perform simulations on industrial structures made of unidirectional ply laminates up to rupture. The strategy adopted in this study on designing laminated composite structures is based on the choice of materials (woven or unidirectional plies) and the use of simple models (focusing on the rupture of the first ply) with which industrial structure analyses can be carried out. The choice of materials (woven or unidirectional plies) does not depend only on mechanical criteria but also on the simplicity of the corresponding modelling procedures.