Limit Analysis: A Layered Approach for Composite Laminates

The present contribution summarizes the results of recent studies carried on by the authors in the last few years concerning the evaluation of the load bearing capacity of single- and multi-pin joints in composite orthotropic plates. The problem, tackled via limit analysis, employs a Tsai-Wu-type yield surface and a non standard treatment of limit analysis approach. Upper and lower bounds to the real peak load value are evaluated by two FE based numerical procedures predicting also the joint failure mode. The whole procedure is implemented at lamina level so taking into account some of the through thickness effects on the joint strength capabilities. A wide number of experimental findings, coming from laboratory tests on real prototypes and available in the relevant literature, is considered to validate, by comparison, the expounded methodology.