Three-dimensional microscopic analysis of inter-laminar area in cross-ply laminate using a homogenization theory

In this study, the microscopic interaction between 0° and 90°-plies at the inter-laminar area of a CFRP cross-ply laminate is investigated by performing the three-dimensional microscopic analysis based on a homogenization theory. To this end, the point-symmetry of internal structure in the laminate is utilized to reduce the domain of analysis by half. Moreover, the substructure method is combined with the homogenization theory in order to decrease computational loads. We then analyze stress distributions at the inter-laminar area of a carbon fiber/epoxy cross-ply laminate subjected to in-plane off-axial tensile load. It is thus shown that inter-laminar shear stress occurs significantly at the interface between 0°- and 90°-plies. It is also shown that the microscopic interaction between two plies markedly appears only in the vicinity of the interface.