The optimization of anti-symmetric laminate / Rafhan Paharal Radzi

The main objective of this project is to simulate the failure of plates under sinusoidal transverse loading. Based on the simulations, the optimization analysis is performed on the anti symmetric laminates. Higher Order Shear Deformation plate theory is utilized to predict the deformation of the plates. To determine the mode of failure for composite plates, a failure criterion with the existence of coupling terms is employed. The selection of this criterion is made, because of its uniqueness that it includes the coupling terms, which relate the interaction between the longitudinal stress and the transverse stresses. Therefore, it allows the interaction between the fiber properties and the matrix properties in terms of the strength of the material, which other failure criteria have neglected. A program based on a finite element method is utilized to determine the lamina stresses. These stresses are then used in the present failure model to determine the First Ply Failure of the anti symmetric laminates. Finally, the First Ply Failure results for various lay up and ply thickness composite plates are analysed to determine the optimum composite plate based on the best lay up and ply thickness. Firstly, for different lay up of lamina, based on optimization analysis, results are generated to find the best lay up for Carbon Epoxy plates. Secondly, for different ply thickness, for Carbon Epoxy results are generated to find the best ply thickness Carbon Epoxy plates. The results shown that the lay up and ply thickness of (5t,t,t,t) at orientation (0,30,-30,0), (0,45,-45,0), (0,60,-60,0), (0, 75,-75,0), (0,90,-90,0) and (t,t,t,3t) at orientation(0,0,0,0) are anti symmetric laminates that could withstand or resistance maximum sinusoidal transverse loading.