SEDL / STP / STP1274-EB / STP16553S

Design and Evaluation of Three Methods for Testing Extension-Twist-Coupled Laminates

Hooke, DA
Graduate research assistant and associate professor, School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Armanios, EA
Graduate research assistant and associate professor, School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Pages: 18    Published: Jan 1996

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Abstract

Elastically tailored composite laminates are those laminates that have been designed with specifically tailored stiffness parameters. These parameters can be sized to give an out-of-plane response to in-plane loading, resulting in deformation modes not found in conventional homogeneous materials.

Three different methods of testing extension-twist-coupled specimens are discussed. The benefits and limitations of each of the methods are highlighted. Quantitative results for each of the testing methods using a hygrothermally stable specimen are shown and compared to determine the applicability and suitability of each of the methods.

A comparison of data with predictions from a shear deformation sublaminate plate theory and finite element method (FEM) is presented.