ANALYSIS OF RESIDUAL STRESSES FOR FIBER REINFORCED ALUMINIUM LAMINATE

A quasi-3D finite element method is used to investigate the residual stresses due to curing in symmetric composite laminates reinforced by hybrid fibers. This paper presents the results of computation for residual stresses in Kevlar/Epoxy-Aluminium laminate in free state or prestressed state under various levels of service temperature. The residual stresses in Aluminium-Glass/Epoxy-Kevlar/Epoxy laminate caused by curing without pretension are also presented here. A very satisfactory degree of accuracy is obtained from the numerical results compared with the experimental evidence by means of method of embedded strain gages. It is shown that the quasi-3D finite element method is a valuable approach for investigating residual stresses in designing and manufacturing the laminates to obtain optimal mechanical performance.