Composite software for analyzing cored laminates

[Peter]

I am looking for software to analyze strength and stiffness of cored composite laminates that are subjected to uniform loads. Typical laminates are Kevlar/E-glass on one face, a core made from Balsa, or PVC, or SAN, and then Carbon on the inner skin. Does any know of a robust software package to help us analyze different types of laminates or is an Excel spreadsheet as good as anything our there?

 

[SWComposites]

Peter,

What type of analysis are you looking to perform: stiffness, deflection, strength, buckling, ? Spreadsheets can handle basic analysis items. There are other codes available for more sophisticated analyses. If you can let me know what type of analyses you need, and what basic structural configurations that you need to analyze, then I can make some suggestions.

Steve W.

http://www.swcomposites.com

 

[Peter]

Steve,
We are presently using an Excel spreadsheet to handle strength and stiffness criteria, but am interested in skin buckling and core shear problems. I am especially interested in core shear when the core is thick and the skins get thin. Any help you can give as to what types of programs are available would be useful.
Thanks.
Peter