Probabilistic failure analysis of transversely loaded laminated composite plates using first-order second moment method

A method for the probabilistic failure analysis of laminated composite plates with random system parameters subject to transverse loads is presented. System parameters such as material properties, plate thickness, and lamina strengths of a laminated composite plate are treated as baseline random variables. The statistics of the baseline random variables obtained from experiments are used in a stochastic finite-element analysis for computing the statistical moments of stresses in the laminated composite plate. An appropriate failure criterion from which the statistical moments of first-ply failure load are derived via a first-order second moment method is used to construct the limit state equation of the plate in the probabilistic failure analysis. The reliability of the laminated plate is then computed using an assumed probability distribution function of the first-ply failure load. The feasibility and accuracy of the present method are validated by the experimental data of centrally loaded laminated composite plates with different layups. The suitability of several commonly used failure criteria for reliability analysis of laminated composite plates is also investigated by means of several examples.