Reliability indicator for layered composites with strongly non-linear behaviour

Abstract This paper set out a method to determine safety factors when designing composite laminate with strongly non-linear behaviour. The failure probability is used to assess the laminate reliability. The second moment-FORM (first order reliability method) method is chosen and the Nataf probability transformation is used in order to take account for a possible correlation between the different variables. The conception point is found from the Rackwitz–Fiessler method. Space conception parameters variability is then introduced in the reliability evaluation. Finally, the method is applied to a composite plate, to show up the conception and the space material parameters variability importance.