Understanding Laminates: Stiffness and Hygrothermal Behavior

This course covers the comprehensive understanding of laminates, focusing on their stiffness and hygrothermal behavior. It delves into the different types of laminate stiffnesses, such as symmetric, anti-symmetric, and quasi-isotropic laminates, and how their characteristics are influenced by the geometrical and mechanical properties of the constituent lamina. For instance, the course explains how the stacking sequence and mechanical properties of the lamina can affect the ABBD matrix, which defines the characteristics of a laminate. The course also explores the concept of hygrothermal stresses in laminates, explaining how temperature change and moisture absorption can lead to the development of residual thermal and hygroscopic stresses. An example of an n-layer laminate is used to illustrate the process of determining hygrothermal residual stresses.