Analysis of edge stresses in composite laminates under combined thermo-mechanical loading, using a complementary energy approach (Q1894397)

The interlaminar stresses near the free edges of a long, rectangular composite plate under a combined thermo-mechanical static loading are investigated using the principle of complementary energy. An assumed stress solution with five unknown functions is sought for the interlaminar stresses so as to account for the effects of the global and local mismatches in the equivalent Poisson's ratio and equivalent coefficient of mutual influence. The unknown functions in the stress components are determined from an eigenvalue problem by minimizing the complementary energy. The resulting solutions satisfy the stress equilibrium equations and the associated boundary conditions, but the compatibility is met in a weak form. Numerical examples are given for the uniform extension, uniform bending, and thermal heating of composite laminate. The results agree with earlier results obtained by other methods. Though the paper is in need of further elaboration in order to examine the case of dynamic loading, it is well-written and may be valuable for researchers working in the area of composite structures.