Numerical analysis of bending and transverse shear properties of plain-weave fabric composite laminates considering intralaminar inhomogeneity

In this study, the bending and transverse shear properties of plain-weave fabric composite laminates are investigated by considering the intralaminar inhomogeneity through finite element analysis. Using homogenization procedures, the effective Reissner Mindlin plate bending and transverse shear properties of composite laminates are calculated. Assuming the number of plies to be infinite, the effective three-dimensional (3D) continuum properties (elastic properties of the equivalent 3D bulk material) of the composite are also calculated. Then, the effect of the number of plies on the bending stiffness and transverse shear stiffness of the laminate, in other words, the effect of the intralaminar inhomogeneity on the laminate stiffness, is investigated. Through the numerical investigation, it is found that if the number of plies of the laminate is very small, the bending stiffness and transverse shear stiffness of the laminate are significantly lower than those evaluated using effective 3D continuum properties.