Non-linear stress-strain behaviour of carbon fibre reinforced plastic laminates

Abstract
An analytical method is proposed which predicts the non-linear stress-strain response of a CFRP laminate. The method uses a secant modulus iterative method and includes thermal effects due to the temperature difference of a laminate from its curing temperature. Details of the basic CFRP non-linear behaviour in transverse and in-plane shear loadings are given. Experimental data on 0°/±45°/0° balanced laminates are presented and compared with theoretical predictions.