Stochastic finite element analysis of uncertain static response of fiber reinforced plastic laminated plate.

The effect of uncertain stacking sequence on static response of fiber reinforced plastic laminated plate is estimated based on the stochastic finite element method. The variation of the stiffness matrix of the laminated plate is evaluated by means of Taylor series expansion with respect to the probabilistic variables representing the fluctuation of orientation and layer thickness. The second order perturbation technique is applied to the determination of the deterministic term and rates of change of unknown displacements up to the second order. Numerical analyses are carried out in regard to rectangular Boron/Epoxy laminated plate under compression. The expectations and variances of deflection and stress are computed with the aid of the second order approximation by taking all the probabilistic variables as uncorrelated Gaussian. It is shown that the orientation is more influential on the response fluctuation than the layer thickness.