Book excerpt: Composite materials are increasingly used in aerospace, underwater, and automotive structures. They provide unique advantages over their metallic counterparts, but also create complex challenges to analysts and designers. Practical Analysis of Composite Laminates presents a summary of the equations governing composite laminates and provides practical methods for analyzing most common types of composite structural elements. Experimental results for several types of structures are included, and theoretical and experimental correlations are discussed. The last chapter is devoted to practical analysis using Designing Advanced Composites (DAC), a PC-based software on the subject. This comprehensive text can be used for a graduate course in mechanical engineering, and as a valuable reference for professionals in the field.