The warping of unsymmetric laminated composites is induced by residual curing stress at the room temperature. Classical lamination theory (C.L.T.) predicts the room temperature shapes of all unsymmetric laminates to be a saddle. Experimental observations, however, indicate some unsymmetric laminated composites have cylindrical room temperature shapes. This anomalous behavior is explained by an extention of C.L.T. which involves Von Karman's large deflection theory.
It is shown that, depending on the thickness, width, length, curing temperature and room temperature of the laminate, critical boundaries of the shape change are determined.
The predictions of the theory are compared with experimental results of Toray Graphite/Epoxy $[0_n/90_n]_T$.
Furthermore, this paper presents some experimental results on the warping of unsymmetric laminates with a view toward a better understanding of the change of shape resulting from desorption of moisture.
