Symmetric laminates

If asymmetric laminate is subjected only to forces, it will have zero midplane curvatures.

If it is subjected only to moments it will have zero midplane strains.

Makes analysis much simpler.

Also prevents a laminate from twisting due to thermal loads.

Quasi- Isotropic Laminates

The layers of the laminate can be arranged in such a way that laminate will behave as an isotropic layer
under in- plane loading. Actually, the laminate is not isotropic (that is called a quasi- isotropic laminate)
because under transverse (normal to the laminate plane) loading under inter laminar shear its behavior
is different from that of an isotropic (e.g., metal) layer. To derive the conditions that should be met by
the structure of a quasi-isotropic