OS-V: 0533 Laminated Shell Strength Analysis Mechanical Load 3

This problem demonstrates when the loads applied in OS-V: 0532 are factored by 1.1491, a Hill failure index (FI) and a reserve factor (RF) of unity for ply 1 are obtained.

Examination of the FI and RF for each criterion confirms that only for the Hill criteria is the FI directly related to reserve factor, RF = 1/(FI)0.5. For all other plies, the RF are reduced by a factor of 1.149-1, but the FI is not. The model is subjected to a uniform longitudinal, transverse, shear, bending and torsional load per unit length. The geometry of the model and boundary conditions are described by Hopkins (2005). The resulting ply failure indices, reserve factor and midplane strains are compared against analytical solutions from classical lamination theory (CLT). The results show a good correlation between OptiStruct and CLT.

Model Files

Before you begin, copy the file(s) used in this problem to your working directory.

Benchmark Model



Figure 1. Composite Laminate Shell Subjected to Combined Loading

800 mesh elements of CQUAD4 element type were used in this study. The model is fixed at point A using a SPC card; a uniform longitudinal force per unit length (Nx) of 26.573 N/m, uniform transverse force per unit length (Ny) of 28.728 N/m and shear force per unit length (Nxy) of 5.7455 N/m are applied using a FORCE card. Bending moments per unit length (Mx = 0.45964 N and My = -0.8618 N) and torsional load per unit length (Txy = -0.20109 N) are applied along the edges of the laminate using a MOMENT card.

The material properties are:
Property
Value
Longitudinal Young’s Modulus, El (GPa)
207.0
Transverse Young’s Modulus, Et (GPa)
7.6
Longitudinal Shear Modulus, Glt (GPa)
5.0
Major Poisson’s ratio, υ 12
0.3
Longitudinal Tensile Strength, σ lt (MPa)
500.0
Longitudinal Compressive Strength, σ lc (MPa)
350.0
Transverse Tensile Strength, σ tt (MPa)
5.0
Transverse Compressive Strength, σ tc (MPa)
75.0
In-plane shear strength, τ lt (MPa)
35.0
Table 1. Comparison of Failure Index for each Ply between OptiStruct (OS) and Classical Lamination Theory (CLT)
Ply Orientation (°) Thickness ( μ m)
1 90.0 0.05
2 -45.0 0.05
3 45.0 0.05
4 0.0 0.05
The geometry of the composite laminate:
Dimension
Value
Length (m)
0.2
Breadth (m)
0.1

Results

Table 2 compares the average midplane strains computed from OptiStruct with CLT. The average midplane strains from CLT presented in Table 2 are of the homogenized composite; therefore, STRAIN I/O should be used, which, gives the midplane strains of individual plies. The identical results show that OptiStruct calculates the midplane strains accurately.
Table 2. Comparison of Midplane Strains between OptiStruct (OS) and Classical Lamination Theory (CLT)
Midplane Strains Theory OptiStruct Result
ε x -1.9902 x 10-4 -1.990 x 10-4
ε y -6.3794 x 10-4 -6.4 x 10-4
ε xy -4.5136 x 10-4 -4.51 x 10-4
The ply failures show a good correlation between the finite element results and analytical solution with a maximum difference of 0.12% in ply 4, -0.005% in ply 4 and -0.02% in ply 2 when Tsai-Wu, Hill and Hoffman failure criteria are used, respectively. The values in Table 4 show that the RF are reduced by a factor of 1.149-1, but the FI is not. Therefore, the RF is more meaningful than the FI in assessing the strength of the ply.
Table 3. Comparison of Failure Index in OptiStruct and CLT
Failure Criteria Ply 1 Ply 2 Ply 3 Ply 4
Theory OptiStruct Result Theory OptiStruct Result Theory OptiStruct Result Theory OptiStruct Result
Tsai-Wu -2.12900 -2.127 -2.76890 -2.77 -2.13250 -2.133 -1.13540 -1.134
Hill 1.00000 1.00000 0.29949 0.29950 0.08470 0.08470 0.64777 0.64780
Hoffman -2.56460 -2.56500 -2.51860 -2.51900 -1.99770 -1.99800 -1.36110 -1.36100
Table 4. Comparison of Reserve Factor for each Ply between OptiStruct and CLT
Reserve Factor Ply 1 Ply 2 Ply 3 Ply 4
Theory OptiStruct Result Theory OptiStruct Result Theory OptiStruct Result Theory OptiStruct Result
Tsai-Wu 1.6123 1.612 3.5651 3.568 6.3911 6.402 2.2331 2.232
Hill 0.99998 1.000 1.8273 1.827 3.436 3.436 1.2425 1.242
Hoffman 1.7718 1.772 2.983 2.983 4.9355 4.933 2.6439 2.644

This document addresses the verification of numerical results for the criteria and does not address the merits of a particular criteria. ESDU data sheet (1986), Soden et al. (1998) and ESA PSS-03-1101 (1986) address the details of particular failure criteria.

Reference

NAFEMS R0092 - Benchmarks for membrane and bending analysis of laminated shells. Part 1, Stiffness matrix and thermal characteristics

NAFEMS R0093 - Benchmarks for membrane and bending analysis of laminated shells. Part 2, Strength analysis