Stochastic analytical and numerical modelling of interface stressses for generally layered 3D-printed composites

Generally layered 3D-printed composite laminates are promising for engineering applications but exhibit insufficient bonding. To aid the understanding of the bond capacity, a stochastic analytical and numerical modelling procedure of the interface stresses of such laminates is presented in this paper. The specific case of the end-notched flexure test is considered and a novel formulation is developed for the evaluation of the contact force between the two sub-laminates. This formulation accounts for the different boundary conditions of the bonded interface. Three analytical models, the rigid, the semi-rigid, and the flexible joint models, are implemented for the determination of the interface stresses for a 3D-printed composite
laminate of nylon reinforced with carbon fibres and compared with finite element analysis results. The present formulation considers residual thermal stresses, a common problem in 3D-printed structures.