Analysis of Composite Laminates with Cut-outs and with Random Material Properties Using Fem and Monte Carlo Simulation

Abstract. Generally one encounters a substantial variation in the mechanical properties of composite laminates. This is due to the fact that a large number of parameters have to be controlled during the manufacturing process. The dispersion in the material properties can best be accounted for by modelling these as random. In this paper, FEM in conjunction with Monte Carlo Simulation is employed to obtain the static response characteristics of composite laminates with and without cut outs and random material properties. From the study conducted it can be concluded that the normalized response characteristic curves of the plate for different aspect ratios, ply orientations and cut out ratios can be collapsed into a single curve within a tolerance of 1.5 percent of the standard deviation of the response.