Effect of Hygrothermal Environment on the Bending of PMC Laminates under Large Deflection

Abstract

The effects of hygrothermal conditions on the large-deflection behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite laminates have been studied. Cylindrical bending of laminates under in-plane and transverse loadings is analyzed using the von Kairman plate theory. A cross-plied symmetric laminate is chosen as an example. The results presented show the effects of expansional strains due to moisture. Results of a similar nature are expected under thermally induced expansion strains also. The formulation is quite general as it can be used for the hygrothermo-mechanical loading of PMCs as well as for the thermo-mechanical loading of MMCs, and fiber and matrix properties may be considered to be transversely isotropic.

Keywords

hygrothermal effect large deflection of laminates cylindrical bending.

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