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 degrees/+45 degrees and +45 degrees/0 degrees, and the concentration of interlaminar normal stress, which occurs at the 90 degrees/-45 degrees and 0 degrees/90 degrees 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.