z0

ν = 1 z1
ν = 2
ν = 3
y -x

ν = N −1 zN −1
ν = N zN

z
?

z α1 < 0 -x
⊗

α2 > 0

ν = 1

ν = 2

y
?
ν = 3

Such laminates are often described by an orientation code [α1 /α2 /α3 /α4 ]
For example [0/-45/90/45/0/0/45/90/-45/0]
Short hand [0/-45/90/45/0]s
Other examples of short hand [0/90]4
or [0/±45/90], [0/452 /30]
etc.

18 Equilibrium equation of a laminated plate (a

laminate)

z0 z0
ν = 1 z1 ν = 1 z1
6 ν = 2 ν = 2
ν = 3 ν = 3
y -x x -y
 ⊗
h

ν = N −1 zN −1 ν = N −1 zN −1
? ν = N zN ν = N zN

x y dy
z - dx  z - 
? ?

z α1 < 0 -x
⊗
y

?
dy

Cut out the element dx×dy

6 and apply the internal forces and moments
as resultants of applied stresses
x - dx  9
y
?
 6

h
x
-

y 

 - σxx (x + dx, z, y)
σ
-yx

σxy

σyy σxz
?
σ
?yz ?

z
?

As h is finite the stresses are unknown functions of z. On the other hand the
dimensions dx and dy are infinitesimally small and we may approximate the
functions according to Taylor series σab (x + dx, y, z) = σab + σab,x dx
and σab (x, y + dy, z) = σab + σab,y dy
where by σab we understand σab = σab (x, y, z)
Now, to write equilibrium equations we need forces and moments acting upon
the element. The acting generalized forces are the resultants of the stresses
Z h2
Nxx = σxx dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Nyy = σyy dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Nxy = σxy dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Nyx = σyx dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Qxz = σxz dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Qyz = σyz dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Mxx = zσxx dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Myy = zσyy dz
−h
2

10
 Z h
2
Mxy = zσxy dz
−h
2
Z h
2
Myx = zσyx dz
−h
2
From the definition of these quantities we see that they are not forces or moments
but in fact linear densities of these forces and moments. To get a real forces we
need to multiply them by the width of the appropriate area of the element.

11
 The forces acting in the x-direction and the equilibrium equation

Nxx,x + Nyx,y = 0 (x)

 Nyx -x
Nxx - Nxx + Nxx,x dx
Nyx+Nyx,y dy
 -
y



z
?

The forces acting in the y-direction and the equilibrium equation

Nxy,x + Nyy,y = 0 (y)

Nyy
* x
Nxy -
*

 Nxy + Nxy,x dx
y

 Nyy
+ Nyy,y dy

z
?

12
 The forces acting in the z-direction and the equilibrium equation
p = p(x, y)
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?
p + Qyz,y + Qxz,x = 0 (z)

Qyz 6 x
-
6
Qxz

y

 Qxz + Qxz,x dx
?
Q + Qyz,y dy
? yz

z
?
The moments acting in the x-direction and the equilibrium equation

+resultant moment
of the couple Qyz -Qyz
Mxy,x + Myy,y − Qyz = 0 (mx)

Myy - -x
Mxy -  Mxy + Mxy,x dx
M +Myy,y dy
  yy
y



z
?

13
 The moments acting in the y-direction and the equilibrium equation

+resultant moment
of the couple Qxz -Qxz
Mxx,x + Myx,y − Qxz = 0 (y)

Myx
* x
Mxx -
*

 Mxx + Mxx,x dx
y

 M
yx + Myx,y dy

z
?

Puting these equilibrium equations together we get Mab,ab = −p

and Nab,a = 0 where a, b = x, y
There are three equations for six unknown. We need a compatibility equation.
The most common one is Kirchhoff hypothesis resulting in Classical lamination
theory.

19 Classical lamination theory

In Classical lamination theory we assume Kirchhoff hypothesis that says that
points on a normal to an undeformed middle plane stay on a normal to the
deformed middle plane.
Following the Kirchhoff hypothesis shown on the figure below
uo = uo (x, y)
vo = vo (x, y)
w = wo = w(x, y)
u = uo − zw,x
v = vo − zw,y

14
 y rAo -x x rAo -y
 ⊗
z
? rBo z
? rBo
6 6

w(x, y) w,x w(x, y) w,y

Kirchhoff hypothesis Kirchhoff hypothesis
? u-o
? v-o
z rA z
u rA
?
w,x
? v w,y
rB rB
- -
z 
z

1
From Cauchy’s strain tensor formula εab = (ua,b + ub,a )
2
we have εxx = u,x = uo,x − zw,xx
εyy = v,y = vo,y − zw,yy
1
εxy = (uo,y + vo,x ) − zw,xy
2
εzx = 0
εyz = 0
εzz = 0
The last expression is in contrariety with the assumption of plane stress. . .
Now, we are to express the stresses using the Hooke’s law for plane stress
state. Why plane stress when the Kirchhoff hypothesis leads to plane strain we
x xx
will discuss later. According to (..) we have  σ =E
ε
σxx
x
where σ =  σyy 
σxy
     
εxx uo,x w,xx
x
and ε =  εyy  =  vo,y  − z  w,yy  = ε o + zκ κ
1
εxy 2 (uo,y + v o,x w ,xy
Note the change in the ± sign due to the definition of the curvature vector κ .
Z h2 Z h2 x
x
For the generalized forces N = σ dz = E (εεo + zκ
κ)dz
−h
2 −h
2
or, as ε o and κ do not depend on z, N = Aε o + B κ
Z h
2 x N Z
X zν ν
where A= E dz = T σxν (αν ) E T ενx (αν )dz
−h
2 ν=1 zν−1

15
 Z h
2 x N Z
X zν ν
and B= z E dz = T σxν (αν ) E T ενx (αν )dz
zT
−h
2 ν=1 zν−1
N
X zν2 − zν−1
2 ν
i.e. B= T σxν (αν ) E T ενx (αν )
ν=1
2
Z h
2
Z h
2 x
x
Similarly for the moments M = z σ dz = z E (εεo + zκ
κ)dz
−h
2 −h
2
or, as ε o and κ do not depend on z, M = B ε o + Dκ
Z h2 x N Z
X zν ν
where D= z 2 E dz = z 2T σxν (αν ) E T ενx (αν )dz
−h
2 ν=1 zν−1
XN
zν3 − zν−1
3 ν
i.e. D= T σxν (αν ) E T ενx (αν )
ν=1
3

20 Symmetric laminate
Symmetric laminate is a laminate for which for every ν there is a µ such
that αν = αµ and zν = −zµ−1
Then B =0
and N = Aε o
M = Dκ
Using (here) and (there) we get Dabcd wabcd = p
and Aabcd uoc,ad = 0
Add comment on coupling...

21 Balanced laminate
22 Solved problems not only on B = 0 case
23 Buckling analysis of laminated plates
Let us consider symmetric laminate B = 0. For this case we have from above
Dabcd w,abcd = 0
Nab,a = 0
These equations of equilibrium have been derived under the undeformed geom-
etry configuration. As in the case of column buckling we need to look at the
case of deformed shape.

16