What is it about?
Most aerospace composite structures use symmetric Quad laminates. Although antisymmetric laminates have been avoided due to extension–bending coupling, tailored antisymmetric designs demonstrate—both theoretically and experimentally—comparable extension–bending response and significantly lower bending–twisting coupling, enabling a more efficient alternative.
Featured Image
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This research challenges the long-standing assumption that symmetry is required for structural efficiency in composite laminates. By demonstrating that tailored antisymmetric sequences can achieve robust uncoupling and improved homogenization, it expands the feasible design space and enables lighter, more mechanically efficient aerospace structures.
Perspectives
From our perspective, this work redefines how we think about laminate symmetry. It shows that antisymmetry, when properly tailored, is not a liability but a powerful design tool. Challenging entrenched rules opens a broader, more efficient composite design space for future aerospace structures.
Antonio Miravete
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Solving the Paradox: Tailored Antisymmetric Laminates Are Less Coupled Than Symmetric Quadriaxial, AIAA Journal, February 2026, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/1.j066792.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
