Elastic-plastic stress analysis of symmetric aluminum metal-matrix composite laminated plates under thermal loads varying linearly

In this study, an Elastic-plastic stress analysis is carried out on symmetric cross-ply [0degrees/90degrees](2) and angle-ply [30degrees/- 30degrees](2), [45degrees/- 45degrees](2), [60degrees/- 60degrees](2) aluminum metal-matrix laminated plates under thermal loads varying linearly along the thickness. An analytical solution is performed for satisfying thermal Elastic-plastic stress-strain relations and boundary conditions for small plastic deformations. Tsai-Hill Criterion is used as a yield criterion. The composite material is assumed to harden linearly. Residual stresses distributions along the thickness of the plates are obtained. All the residual stress moments are in static balance with respect to middle plane of the laminates since they are symmetric in opposite signs. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.