On the elastic properties of fiber composite laminates with statistically dispersed ply orientations

Structural application of advanced composite filamentary materials requires lamination of the basic orthotropic plies into angle-ply laminates. The resulting elastic and strength properties depend on the pattern of orientation and are influenced by inevitable errors and inaccuracy in placement of the angle plies. Reviewed is the effect on elastic properties of orientation dispersion. The conventional constitutive relations are recast in a homologous form to account for orientation dispersion by addition of a single parameter. Graphical results are presented to show the behavior of the most important advanced composite materials. The results are directly useful for estimating effects of manufacturing inaccuracy and for design of partially oriented reinforced structures.