A Complex Potential Methodology for Reinforced Elliptical Cutouts and Bonded Repairs in Composites

This paper presents a methodology for analysis of elliptical reinforced cutouts and patch repairs in anisotropic plates typical of composite laminates. The focus of the analytical approach is a complex potential solution for concentric elliptical inclusions in an infinite anisotropic plate under remote biaxial and shear loading. Details of the solution are given, along with example calculations to demonstrate its accuracy. Parametric studies are presented to evaluate the effectiveness of different reinforcements and repair patches in reducing stress and strain concentrations near elliptical cutouts. The paper also includes an outline of the solution approach and a typical result for a finite panel geometry.