Stress-based grant-sanders method for predicting failure of composite laminates

The stress-based Grant-Sanders method developed at British Aerospace Defence is described. It has been applied to a number of examples to produce envelopes of initial and final failure and stress/strain curves, all of which are illustrated in this paper. Unlike some other current methods, each strength prediction is accompanied by predictions of the mode and location of failure. The use of discrete failure criteria gives an abrupt appearance, with sharp corners, to many of the predicted failure envelopes, in contrast to the elliptical shapes produced by techniques based on tensor polynominals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.