Investigation of the edge effect in composites using the ANSYS software in a two-dimensional formulation

The possibility of using the universal software ANSYS to study the concentration of interlaminar stresses near the free edges of laminated composites in a two-dimensional finite element formulation is considered. In this case, the cross-section of a rectangular four-layer composite plate of finite width with free side edges subject to uniform axial deformation is simulated. To create it, an original technique is proposed which consists in using thermal stress. The presented calculation results are in good agreement with the results of other authors.