DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES WITH MANUFACTURING FLAWS

A brief summary of the types and frequency of manufacturing defects in composite parts is presented. As an example of how these defects can be analyzed and their effect incorporated in the design procedure, the buckling load of internal elliptical delaminations in composite panels under combined in-plane loads is determined. The effect of various parameters such as loading configuration, delamination size, aspect ratio, and through-the-thickness location is examined and example design charts are constructed. The possibility of using the results to establish non-destructive inspection standards is discussed.