Reliability of Composite Laminates in Ship Hulls

The main objective of this paper is to compare the reliability of the different laminates used in ship hulls. The randomness in the material properties and the lateral impact load have been considered. The laminate analysis is carried out by considering the shear deformation (the Mindlin’s plate theory). The probability of failure of different laminates is calculated by using the finite element method and the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The reliability of the laminates is then estimated from the response of the laminated plate. The reliability indices are then calculated for laminates of chopped strand mat, woven roving, and their combinations.