Three-dimensional interlaminar stress analysis at free edges of general cross-ply composite laminates

A layerwise theory is used to investigate analytically the interlaminar stresses near the free edges of general cross-ply composite laminates under uniform axial extension. Laminates with finite dimensions are considered and full three-dimensional stresses in the interior and the boundary-layer regions are calculated. The results obtained from this theory are compared with those available in the literature. It is found that the edge-effect problem of general cross-ply laminates is actually a quasi three-dimensional problem and its stress analysis can be restricted to a generic two-dimensional cross-section of the laminates.