Composite laminates with spatially varying fiber orientations - 'Variable stiffness panel concept'

A solution has been obtained to the plane elasticity problem for a symmetrically laminated composite panel with spatially varying fiber orientations. Since variation of the fiber angles along the length of a composite laminate results in stiffness properties that change as a function of location, the laminates are called variable stiffness panels. An analysis of the stiffness variation and its effect on the elastic response of the panel is presented here. A numerical solution has been obtained using an iterative collocation technique. Corresponding closed-form solutions are given for three different sets of boundary conditions. Two of the cases considered have exact solutions and thus serve to validate the numerical model.