Response of multilayered composite laminates to dynamic surface loads

A theoretical investigation of the response of multilayered composite laminates to concentrated and distributed dynamic surface loads is carried out. Each layer of the laminate is assumed to be transversely isotropic and dissipative with arbitrarily oriented symmetry axis. The dissipative property of the material is modeled approximately through the introduction of a frequency-dependent damping function. A multiple transform technique is used to calculate the spectra and time histories of the displacements and stresses produced by a variety of dynamic loads, and the quantitative features of the waves produced in the laminate are determined. The methodology developed in this work is expected to be useful in the prediction of the response of composite laminates to impact loads and also in the characterization of acoustic emission (AE) sources in these materials under static and dynamic loads.