Modelling of [0/90] laminates subject to thermal effects considering mechanical curvature and through-the-thickness strain

Non-uniform curvatures and through-the-thickness strain have been incorporated in the Extended Classical Lamination Theory of Dano and Hyer to model curved shapes of bistable laminates. The indication of Tiersten about the use of the sine instead of the tangent function in the derivation of the bending curvature has been introduced. Two expansions of curvatures, named the mechanical and the mathematical curvatures, have been developed. Through-the-thickness strain, which is assumed to be uniform in thickness, has been also included in the analysis. Out-of-plane displacements of a grid of points marked at the deformed surface of a carbon/epoxy laminate of square shape have been experimentally obtained using a Coordinate Measuring Machine. Comparison between experimental results of displacements and different analytic approaches has been carried out.