| An investigation on the effect of stitching on composite laminates has been conducted. The effective parameters investigated include stitching density, stitching diameter, stitching material, laminate thickness, and laminate material. To investigate the effect of these parameters, a composite plate was modeled as an orthotropic laminate supported at discrete locations by an elastic foundation. The locations of support are those strands of fiber that transverse through the thickness of the laminate with the stiffness of the foundation proportional to the stiffness of the fiber threads.; By using analytical approaches (the equilibrium method and the energy method), expressions were developed to predict the local buckling strength of composite laminates. Results are given for a variety of the parameters. To validate the analytical results, the finite element method has been utilized. In conclusion, through-thickness stitching is a promising method to increase the resistance to delamination extension by increasing the local buckling strength of composite laminates. |
