Multilayer plates
Laminated composite structures

Thin structures

By laminating layers in which the fibers are oriented along preferential directions, it is possible to withstand complex in-plane forces. On the other hand, forces acting perpendicularly to the plane of the fibers can only be absorbed by the matrix (composites with out-of-plane reinforcements such as nails or seams are not considered here). Structures for which the use of composites is very interesting are thin structures (the thickness is small compared to the characteristic dimensions of the structure).

The most common examples are plates, thin shells and thin-section beams (tube, I-section, L-section, etc.). All these structures can be considered as an assembly of plates....