Wave propagation in an asymmetric fibre-reinforced laminated plate (Q1086009)

This paper examines the propagation of waves in a 2-ply laminate composed of a transversely isotropic elastic material with the fibre direction in the two plies being at right angles to each other. Attention is confined to waves propagating in the fibre direction in one of the plies. The dispersion equation, relating the wave speed to the wavelength, is derived and is solved numerically for a number of different values of the ratio of the thickness of the two layers. The long and short wavelength behaviour is examined analytically. Comparisons are made between this asymmetric composite and a symmetry 3-ply laminate composed of the same material.