BENDING ANALYSIS OF LAMINATES WITH VARIABLE ANGLE TOWS

The composite laminate with variable angle tows (VAT) is a new kind of variable stiffness structure and its bending problem is studied in this paper. By assuming that the fiber angle of each ply varies linearly along the length of the laminate, the governing equation of the bending problem is derived based on the classical plate theory. Finite Element Method of Lines (FEMOL) is employed to analyze the bending problem of the laminate with variable angle tows under arbitrary boundary conditions. Results are compared with those obtained by ABAQUS so that the accuracy of FEMOL is validated. Furthermore, the effect of boundary conditions, ply stacking sequences, fiber orientation and length-to-width ratio on the bending properties of laminate with variable angle tows is also discussed. The results are helpful for the design of this new kind of variable stiffness structure.