Analysis of unsymmetric CFRP–metal hybrid laminates for use in adaptive structures

The potential of using multistable composite materials for adaptive structures is currently receiving interest from the aerospace community because they possess more than one single equilibrium configuration. Unsymmetric CFRP laminates are studied which have an inner isotropic metallic layer. These hybrid laminates are studied using analytical, finite element and experimental techniques. The thermal contraction of the isotropic layer upon cool down from cure induces large in-plane thermal loads which act remotely from the laminate’s neutral plane, increasing snap-through moments and out-of-plane displacements. The curvatures of the hybrid laminates can be doubled compared to pure unsymmetric CFRP laminates.