Failure behavior of quasi-isotropic laminates with three-pin loaded holes

This paper presents the effect of hole positions on the failure behavior of glass-epoxy laminated composite plates fabricated from stacking sequence [0/90/+/-45]s subjected to a traction force by three-pins. Three different hole distance parameters, namely the ratio of free edge distance to the outer holes/pin diameter (E/D = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), the ratio of longitudinal distance between the holes/pin diameter (F/D = 2, 4, 6) and the ratio of transverse distance between the parallel holes/pin diameter (G/D = 3, 4, 5) were used to investigate the effects of hole positions on failure load and failure mode. Shear out failure mode which is not the desired mode for a structure occurs around the first and second pin holes very close to the free edge of the specimen (E/D = 1). The other specimens were damaged in bearing mode which is the most desired mode. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved