A review on analysis of laminated composite and sandwich structures under hygrothermal conditions

Extensive numerical results available in published articles reflect the importance of the effects of geometric parameters, material properties, end conditions, hygrothermal fields, etc. on the behavior of laminated composite and sandwich structures when exposed to environmental conditions. A critical review of available literature for the prediction of the behavior of laminated composites and sandwich structures under hygrothermal conditions is carried out and summarized under different categories namely: static, vibration, buckling, post-buckling and miscellaneous studies (transient, dynamic, impact studies). Each category is further discussed separately in details highlighting the important outcomes of the research. In addition to that, each category is again grouped on the basis of the type of theory used by different researchers in their work. The displacement fields, thermal fields and the method adopted in different papers are also summarized.