Designing and Analyzing Polymer Composite Structures — Lesson 1

This lesson covers the analysis and design of polymer composite structures, specifically focusing on the failure of laminates and the calculation of failure load. The lesson delves into the details of classical lamination theory and how it is used to calculate the stresses in the lamina of a laminate. It also discusses the use of different failure criteria like maximum stress criterion or Tsai-Hill failure criterion to determine the failure load of a laminate. The lesson then moves on to the practical application of these theories in the design and analysis of a thin cylindrical pressure vessel. The lesson concludes with a comparison of the weight savings achieved by replacing aluminum with fiber-reinforced composite materials in the design of the pressure vessel.

Video Highlights

02:22 - Thin cylindrical pressure vessel
10:34 - Torsional shear stress
20:25 - Replacement of Aluminum with Carbon Epoxy to reduce weight
45:14 - Calculating the reduced stiffness Matrix for each layer
58:02 - Using maximum stress Theory to calculate the safety factor

Key Takeaways

- Understanding the failure of laminates and the calculation of failure load is crucial in the design of polymer composite structures.
- Classical lamination theory is a useful tool for calculating the stresses in the lamina of a laminate.
- Different failure criteria like maximum stress criterion or Tsai-Hill failure criterion can be used to determine the failure load of a laminate.
- Replacing aluminum with fiber-reinforced composite materials in the design of a thin cylindrical pressure vessel can lead to significant weight savings.