SUMMARY

This thesis challenges the conventional use of four standard ply angles - 0°, +45°, -45° and 90° - in composite laminate design with non-standard ply angles for reduced ply thickness and improved notched compressive strength. This thesis also describes strength improvement through customized stacking sequence, which improves open-hole compression strength by up to 33%. This improvident is also predicted by the D matrix of Classical Laminate Theory. This thesis seeks to extend the study on non-standard angles, stacking sequence, resin edge treatment with more experimental work and FEM modeling.