Transverse Shear Effects in Bimodular Composite Laminates

Abstract

A closed-form solution for the Timoshenko-type shear correction coefficient (K2) governing the deflection of bimodular composite laminates in cylindrical bending is presented. The bending- stress distribution for a laminate constructed of bimodular materials (which have different elastic moduli in tension and compression) is used in the two-dimensional equilibrium equation to obtain the transverse shear-stress distribution. This shear-stress distribution is used to obtain expressions for the shear correction coefficient (based on equrvalent shear strain energy) and the maximum dimensionless transverse shear stress (τxz) max. Finally, the effects of the elastic-constant ratios on the neutral-surface location and shear correction coefficient for laminates consisting of either unimodular or bimodular materials are studied.