Modified shear-lag model for analysis of a composite laminate with drop-off plies

In this paper, a modified shear-lag model was developed and implemented to perform interlaminar stress analysis of the unidirectional laminate with drop-off plies in tension. The essential assumptions for the established model are that both plies and resin layers are treated to act as carriers of tensile stress and also to act as stress-transfer media. The model, therefore, overcomes the limitations exhibited in the conventional shear-lag and is capable of addressing delaminations in the laminated composite due to material and geometric discontinuities at the region close to the drop-off plies. The validity and efficiency of the model have been illustrated by comparison of results obtained with the current model and ones from the existing literature. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.