Von-mises stress in PCOMP elements.. 1

[pcomp]

When I post process the result of an analysis with composite layered elements (PCOMP elements in NASTRAN), I could see the solver outputs von-mises stresses for PCOMP elements, apart from stresses in each layer of the composite.

I wonder, how it calculates von-mises stress of a composite pcomp element?

 

[fkmeyers]

Plies tend to be orthotropic so this is a good question. The answer is that it simply takes the normal-x, normal-y, and shear-xy components and uses the standard equation for von Mises stress. If you are using NEiNastran, there is an equation in the QRG under STRESS in the Case Control section.