Stress Field Induced by Transient Moisture Sorption in Finite-Width Composite Laminates

Abstract

To describe the moisture sorption process in a long, finite-width com posite laminate, the two-dimensional diffusion equation is solved using a finite element method. The solution which describes the time-varying moisture concentration profile in the solid, is then incorporated in the calculation of the elastic stress field induced by moisture swelling. Time- varying stress concentrations are found present near the free edge region. The moisture sorption history is shown to be important in the evaluation of the laminate's residual stress field. This is the concluding paper in a series of three by the authors, which study the hygrothermal and mechanical aspects of free-edge effects in composite laminates by means of elastic finite element analysis.