Validation of Elastic Couplings in a Compressed Laminate Plate Element

Analytical calculations were led on carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates in asymmetrical configuration. Three types of configurations were investigated where Extension-Twisting and Extension-Bending couplings were used to get elastic element. Analysis was conducted according to classical laminate theory (CLT) toward the presence of elastic couplings. Components of matrices A, B, and D, as well as the parameters Dc and Bt were obtained using the Matlab software environment. The results showed that couplings between the extension and bending, as well as between the extension and twisting, were strongly dependent on specimen plies orientation. Moreover, additional analysis was performed on the influence of layers angle on the D11, D16, D12 and the D22 terms which are components of the Bt and Dc coefficients. The results indicated that angle of laying fibers around 45o-50o significantly amplify the effects of elastic couplings.