Numerical Analysis and Experimental Validation of Interlaminar Stresses of Quasi-isotropic APC-2/AS-4 Laminate with a Central Hole Loaded in Tension

This article addresses the distributions of interlaminar stresses of centrally notched quasi-isotropic APC-2/AS-4 laminate ([0/±45/90] 2s ) in tension by finite element method (FEM). Results include the concentration of interlaminar stresses in the vicinity of free boundaries (including hole edge and free sides); The concentration of interlaminar shear stress dominates at interfaces of -45°/+45° and +45°/0°, and the concentration of interlaminar normal stress, which occurs at the 90°/-45° and 0°/90° interfaces. Further analysis demonstrates that the concentration of interlaminar shear stress is more severe as a whole and the highest interlaminar shear stress occurs near the hole edge. The results of digital speckle correlation measurement experiment validate the FEM result.