Reliability indicator for layered composites with strongly non-linear behaviour

This paper set out a method to determine safety factors when designing composite laminate with strongly non-linear behaviour. The failure probability is used to assess the laminate reliability. The second moment-FORM (first order reliability method) method is chosen and the Nataf probability transformation is used in order to take account for a possible correlation between the different variables. The conception point is found from the Rackwitz-Fiessler method. Space conception parameters variability is then introduced in the reliability evaluation. Finally, the method is applied to a composite plate, to show up the conception and the space material parameters variability importance. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.