This paper examines the mechanical behaviour of a fibre-reinforced plate subjected to transverse loads. The layered composite CFRP plate used in the experimental investigation consists of 17 layers composed of polyester matrix reinforced with carbon fibres. The bulk fibre volume fraction in the plate is approximately 61%. The paper examines the micro-structural arrangement of the fibres within a layer, which is used to verify the volume fraction and the elasticity properties of each layer. The elastic properties of the laminate are then estimated using a composite plate model. The experiment conducted in connection with the research involved the localized loading of CFRP plates simply supported on two opposite edges. The effective elasticity properties of the plates are used in conjunction with a finite element model to predict the deflected shape of plates. The results for the plate displacement at the point of application of the load are used to establish a correlation between results based on finite element computations, and experiments.
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