Composites Coursework Assignment
Title: Design and Analysis of a Laminated Composite Tube
Arrangement: This is a group coursework. 4 students in each group (3 is fine as well).
Students should try to form the group by themselves. If they cannot find
a group, then they will be randomly allocated to a group.
Report submission: 18:00 Friday Week 7, 15 March 2024.
One group only needs to submit one report (with names of all members).
Submission link: Assessment & Feedback > Coursework Assignment
Coursework description:
A cylindrical tube of 4 layers of composite material with a layup of [ / / / ] is to be
designed and can be manufactured by winding tapes cut from a UD carbon-epoxy prepreg
sheet on to a cylindrical mandrel of a 25mm radius. For the consideration of practicality, the
range of these two winding angles will have to fall in [−5°, −0°] or [+30°, +75°] to the axis
of the tube, i.e. −75 −30 or +30 +75, −75 −30 or +30 +75. The
thickness of the prepreg is 0.25mm. The tube should be made to a length of 300mm.
The design variables are winding angles and . By selecting an appropriate
set of winding angles and , the tube must be designed to meet all the
following requirements when the tube is axially compressed by a load of
P=25kN:
1) The tube must not fail according to maximum stress failure criterion.
2) The tube should achieve an angle of twist in a specified direction as
indicated in the diagram on the right.
3) The design should aim to achieve the maximum angle of twist for the tube.
Material properties:
E1=236 GPa, E2=5 GPa, G12=2.6 GPa, 12=0.25.
1*t = 3800 MPa, 1*c = 689 MPa, 2*t = 41 MPa, 2*c = 107 MPa, 12* = 69 MPa
* The design load is higher than the working load (i.e. safety factor is already considered)
Hint: Laminate theory can be used to design this tube. The generalised stresses in the tube can
be determined from the axial load. The bending deformation of the tube under axial
compression is very small and can be ignored. Please refer to the examples in Topic 2, Topic 3
and Topic 4.
You are suggested to use software, such as Matlab, to do all the calculations for your design
analysis.
1
Report and Marking Scheme
A standard report is required (maximum length: 10 pages, excluding the coversheet and
appendix) and the coursework report should address the followings:
1) Cover Sheet. Names of all group members. Statement of equal contributions from
each group member. Group members must work together and be involved in all parts
of the coursework. If a member contributes very little to the coursework, her/his mark
will be reduced to zero.
2) A very brief description of the coursework project.
3) Design approach and theory. [35 marks]
All the necessary equations used for the design analysis and solution are required
(including those derivations made by you if there are any, but please don’t derive the
laminate theory).
A clear design analysis procedure leading to the final design solution: i.e, , Step X,
define [Q], Step XX, find [A], etc.
4) Results/explanation for your design. [40 marks]
Convincing results and analysis/explanations are needed to prove that your design
satisfies the three design requirements.
Only the results for stress {}, failure analysis and twist angle are needed in the report.
Please don’t include the trivial results, such as those for [Q], [A], [T] etc, in the report.
5) Tape size for tube manufacturing. [15 marks]
Assume that the tube would be manufactured as follows: cut rectangular tapes from a
UD carbon-epoxy prepreg sheet, then wind the tapes on to a cylindrical mandrel of a
25mm radius.
Specify the length and width of the tapes so that the tube can be manufactured properly
by winding the tapes onto the mandrel. (You don’t manufacture the tube)
6) A very brief conclusion.
7) Appendix. Please attach your program here, such as Matlab.
8) Report must be concise, logic and easy to follow. [10 marks]
*Note: Please submit one single PDF file containing all the above contents.
