Effects of the Strain Rate Variation on the Interlaminar Stresses of the Thick Angle-ply Laminates

In this paper, for the thick AS4/PEEK angle-ply laminate [±25] _s4 , the interlaminar stresses for four different strain rates are computed and investigated. The three-dimensional distribution plots at different interfaces are given. According to the interlaminar stress results for four different strain rates, the effects of the strain rates on the interlaminar stresses at different interfaces are elucidated. The absolute values of the interlaminar shear stresses τ _zx at the interfaces +25°/-25° and -25°/+25° increase along with increase of strain rates. The effects of the strain rates on the interlaminar shear stresses τ _zy at the interfaces are similar. For the interlaminar normal stresses at the interfaces +25°/-25° and -25°/+25°, if the stresses are tensile ones, their values rise along with increment of the strain rates; however, if they are compressive stresses, the contrary effects exist. Furthermore, the variation circumstances of the interlaminar stresses along the thickness are studied, and the interlaminar stresses for four strain rates at this location are analyzed. It can be obtained that the interlaminar stresses closer to the free edges at the interfaces are most evidently influenced by the strain rates.