Abstract

This paper analyses the two-plane bending test to characterise the behaviour of unidirectional composite laminates. This test consists of a flat plate supported at four points to which a point force is applied at the centre. Currently, this configuration is not mathematically solved for orthotropic materials.

Initially, the displacements and bending moments produced in plates of isotropic material have been analysed by means of numerical simulation and analytical approach. The results obtained have been corroborated with other works published in the scientific literature.

Subsequently, the numerical models and the analytical development have been applied to plates formed with orthotropic material, in the configuration of the two-plane bending test. For this purpose, rectangular plates with different aspect ratio have been analysed in order to obtain different stress ratios along the fibre and perpendicular to it.

Finally, the results obtained both by numerical simulation and by the analytical approach have been compared with experimental tests carried out on unidirectional composite specimens made of epoxy matrix and carbon fibre.