Limit Analysis of Orthotropic Laminates by Linear Matching Method

A numerical procedure for limit analysis of orthotropic composite laminates, in plane stress conditions, is presented. The procedure can be viewed as an extension, in the context of orthotropic materials, of a method known in the relevant literature as Linear Matching Method. The structural elements here examined are composite laminates obeying, by hypothesis, to a Tsai-Wu type yield criterion. Following the kinematic approach of limit analysis theory, an upper bound to the collapse load multiplier is detected in a finite element context and in an iterative fashion. A few numerical examples are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach and to inquire into its capability to predict experimental test results for pinned-joint composite plates.