Effects of Moisture Profiles and Laminate Configuration on the Hygro Stresses in Advanced Composites
An integrated hygrothermo-mechanical theory was used to predict the effects of three moisture profiles on the ply hygro stresses in angleplied laminates. The moisture profiles were linear, parabolic and hyperbolic. Moisture content varied from 1 percent in the exposed ply to zero in the protected ply. The angleplied laminates were of two generic configurations. The results obtained are summarized graphically to illustrate the effects of both moisture profile and laminate configuration. The results indicate that ply transverse tensile hygro stresses may reach sufficiently high magnitudes to cause transply cracking.