The purpose of the article is to study the effect of the direction of reinforcement of a composite material relative to the cyclic load on the inhomogeneity of stress distribution by the thermal method of non-destructive testing using the thermoelastic effect. This method is widely used in all industries for the control of structural elements and in research work. The degree of stress inhomogeneity is used when choosing the safety factors necessary to ensure the safety of technical objects. In this study, the thermoelastic effect is used to show the possibility of estimating the local distribution of stresses using the temperature field of the test object, proceeding from the linear relation between the temperature of the elastic body and mechanical stresses. The results of studying composite laminates (fibrous filler (fiberglass) with an epoxy matrix) with different laying of fibers with respect to the direction of loading are presented. Four laminate samples were considered: single-layer [0] and [90], three-layer [0]3 and [90]3. Statistical data and estimates of the coefficients of variation, methods of clustering and averaging over the length of the laminates the values of the temperature distribution over the surface of the laminates. The numerical characteristics of the distribution of local temperatures are obtained. It is shown that a more uniform distribution occurs when reinforcing is directed along the direction of the material loading. The integral and local characteristics of the temperature distribution in the samples are compared. The differences in the local temperature distribution depending on the laminate thickness were noted visually for single-layer and three-layer samples. A more uniform distribution of the load is also observed in the direction of reinforcement and with an increase in the number of reinforcement layers. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that the choice of the value of the safety factor, which evaluates the level of stress inhomogeneity, depends on the design features of the laminates. During operation of products made of composite materials in the presence of significant accumulated damage, when the uneven distribution of stresses increases, the levels of safety factors should be adjusted.
