Analysis of multi-layered composite cylinders under hygrothermal loading

In this study, a general stress analysis is developed for thick or thin multi-layered composite cylinders under hygrothermal loadings. The layers are oriented symmetrically and antisymmetrically for [0°/90°]2, [30°/−30°]2, [45°/−45°]2 and [60°/−60°]2 orientations. The solution is carried out on composite cylinders for plane-strain, open end and closed end conditions. Uniform and parabolic temperature distributions are chosen for the thermal loads. All the integration constants are found from the radial stress and displacement in the normal direction of layers. The hygrothermal and other mechanical properties are measured on a glass-epoxy composite layer. Some analytical solutions are compared with the finite element solutions, in which commercial software ANSYS 7.0 is utilized, and close results are obtained between them.