Interply layer degradation effects on composite structural response

Recent research activities at NASA Lewis Research Center to computationally evaluate the effects of interply layer progressive weakening (degradation) on the structural response of a composite beam are summarized. The structural responses of interest include: (1) bending, (2) buckling, (3) free vibrations, (4) periodic excitation, and (5) impact. Finite element analysis was used for the computational evaluations. The interply layer degradation effects on the various structural responses were determined and assessed as a function of the interply layer modulus varying from 1 million psi down to 1000 psi and even lower for some limiting cases. The results obtained show that the interply layer degradation has generally negligible effects on composite structural response and, therefore, structural integrity, unless the interply layer modulus degrades to about 10,000 psi or less.