Similitude study for a laminated cylindrical tube under tension, torsion, bending, internal and external pressure Part II: scale models

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the validity of scale model development testing and predict the laminated cylindrical tube behavior under tensile, torsion, bending, internal and external pressure load. Similitude theory is used to develop the necessary similarity conditions. In the amplitude approach, the coefficients of the governing differential equation for the prototype and the model of the prototype are compared to develop scaling laws. For composites, these scaling laws depend not just on geometry, but also on constituent properties and the laminate stacking sequences. The model tubes were loaded under scaled test conditions until catastrophic failure. Data acquired included load, strain measurements and non destructive evaluation of damage mechanisms. © 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.