Composite Laminate 1

Effective Moduli of a Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Lamina

Review of Linear Constitutive Relations

General anisotropic material behavior is given by a relationship

wherein all 6 tensor stress components are related to all 6 tensor
strain components:

σ xx   C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16  ε xx 

σ    ε 
 yy  C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26  yy 

σ zz  C31 C32 C33 C34 C35 C36   ε zz 
 =  ε 
σ yz  C41 C42 C43 C44 C45 C46   yz 
σ zx  C51 C52 C53 C54 C55 C56  ε zx 
    
σ xy  C61 C62 C63 C64 C65 C66  ε xy 
 
or
{σ } = [C ]{ε }
Composite Laminate 2
[C] is symmetric, but the matrix is full. The material constants in
[C] are called the stiffness or elastic constants (or moduli).

Inverting the last relation gives

{ε } = [ S ]{σ }

[S] is usually called the compliance matrix. Note that [ S ] = [C ]−1 .

The determination of the material constants for a general

anisotropic material is extremely difficult since the material has
mechanical properties (Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, etc.) that
vary with the direction in which they are measured, and all stresses
are coupled with all strains.
Composite Laminate 3
Orthotropic Material (3-D)
A material that has mechanical properties that can be associated
with an orthogonal principal material coordinate system is called
orthotropic. A typical example is a unidirectional composite
lamina shown below:
Orthotropic lamina
with principal
material (1,2,3) and
non-principal (x,y,z)
coordinates. Note
that 1 is generally
taken as the fiber
direction, and 2 is
transverse to the
fiber but in the plane
of a fiber layer.
This unidirectional composite lamina has three mutually
orthogonal planes of material property symmetry and is called an
Composite Laminate 4
orthotropic material. In the above figure, the 123 coordinates axes
are referred to as the principal material coordinates since they are
associated with the reinforcement directions. One can show that
for specially orthotropic materials wherein the 123 axes are
principal material directions, the compliance matrix has the form:
 S11 S12 S13 0 0 0 
S S22 S 23 0 0 0 
 21 
 S31 S32 S33 0 0 0 
[S ] =  
 0 0 0 S44 0 0 
 0 0 0 0 S55 0 
 
 0 0 0 0 0 S66 

Note that shear stresses (and strains) are now uncoupled from
normal stresses (and strains).
Using the appropriate sequence of material uniaxial and shear tests
(see Gibson, or any composite mechanics text), one can show that
Composite Laminate 5
the compliance terms can be written in terms of engineering
material constants so that we have the following relation between
engineering strains and stress. [Recall that engineering shear strain
is twice the tensor shear strain, i.e., γ 12 = 2ε12 .]
 ε11   1/ E1 −ν 21 / E2 −ν 31 / E3 0 0 0  σ 11 
ε   −ν / E 1/ E2 −ν 32 / E3 0 0 0  σ 22 
 22   12 1  
ε 33   −ν13 / E1 −ν 32 / E2 1/ E3 0 0 0  σ 33 
 =  
γ 23   0 0 0 1/ G23 0 0   τ 23 
γ 31   0 0 0 0 1/ G31 0   τ 31 
    
γ 12   0 0 0 0 0 1/ G12   τ12 

E1 , E2 , E3 are Young's moduli in the 1, 2, 3 directions,

ν ij = −ε jj / εii = Poisson's ratio for transverse normal strain in the j
direction when a normal stress is applied
in the i direction, and
Gij are shear moduli in the i-j plane.
Composite Laminate 6

Since the compliance matrix [S] must be symmetric, we see that

ν ij ν ji
=
Ei Ej

Hence, the strain-stress relation could also be written as:

 ε11   1/ E1 −ν12 / E1 −ν13 / E1 0 0 0  σ 11 

ε   −ν / E 1/ E2 −ν 23 / E2 0 0 0  σ 22 
 22   21 2  
ε 33   −ν 31 / E3 −ν 32 / E3 1/ E3 0 0 0  σ 33 
 =  
γ 23   0 0 0 1/ G23 0 0   τ 23 
γ 31   0 0 0 0 1/ G31 0   τ 31 
    
γ 12   0 0 0 0 0 1/ G12   τ12 

Note that for the specially orthotropic material, there are 9

engineering constants: E1, E2 , E3 ,ν12 ,ν13 ,ν 23 , G12 , G13 , G23 .
Composite Laminate 7
Orthotropic Lamina in Plane Stress
For a single laminae, the lamina is often assumed to be in a simple
two-dimensional state of plane stress (in the 1-2 plane) such that
σ 33 = τ 32 = τ 31 = 0 . The lamina compliance relation simplifies to

 ε11   S11 S12 0  σ 11 

     
ε 22  =  S21 S 22 0 σ 22 

γ   0 0 S66   τ12 
 12  
or
 ε11   1/ E1 −ν12 / E1 0  σ 11 
    
ε 22  =  −ν 21 / E2 1/ E2 0  σ 22 

γ   0 0 1/ G12   τ12 
 12  

Hence, there are only 5 non-zero compliances (only are 4 are

independent since [S] is symmetric) and 4 independent material
constants ( E1 , E2 ,ν12 , G12 ).
Composite Laminate 8

The last equation can be inverted to obtain the lamina stiffness

relation, but is written in terms of tensor strains as:

σ 11   Q11 Q12 0  ε11 

    
σ
 22  = Q21 Q22 0  ε 22 

τ   0 0 2Q66  ε12 = γ 12 / 2 
 12  
or
σ 11   ε11 
   
σ 22  = [Q ]  ε 22 
τ  ε = γ / 2 
 12   12 12 

where the Qij are components of the lamina stiffness matrix and
are given by:
Composite Laminate 9
S22 E1
Q11 = =
2
S11S22 − S12 1 − ν12ν 21
S11 E2
Q22 = =
2
S11S22 − S12 1 − ν12ν 21
S12 ν12 E2 ν 21E1
Q12 = = = = Q21
2
S11S22 − S12 1 −ν12ν 21 1 − ν12ν 21
1
Q66 = = G12
S66
Composite Laminate 10
Transformation of Material Properties (1-2 to x-y)
(or the Generally Orthotropic Lamina)

In order to analyze laminates having multiple laminae with fibers

in different directions, it is necessary to determine material
properties in an arbitrary x-y coordinate system in terms of
material properties in the 1-2 principal material directions. This is
a simple transformation similar to stress transformation in
combined stresses.

Consider a lamina that has the principal 1 material axes at angle θ

to the x axis (+ counterclockwise) as shown below. We can
transform forces from x-y to 1-2 coordinates using the simple
relationship:
 F1   c s   Fx   *   Fx 
 =    = T   
 F2   − s c   Fy   Fy 
c = cosθ , s = sin θ
Composite Laminate 11
1,2 is the local
(material)
coordinate
system

x,y is the
global
coordinate
system

The stress transforms as a second order tensor, i.e.,

σ xx σ xy  σ 11 σ 12 
 = [ T *] [ T *]
T
 σ 
σ yx σ yy   21 σ 22 
Composite Laminate 12
This can be expanded to give the familiar set of i.e.,

σ xx = c 2σ11 + s 2σ 22 − 2scτ12
σ yy = s 2σ11 + c 2σ 22 + 2scτ12
τ xy = scσ11 − scσ 22 + (c 2 − s 2 )τ12

or, in matrix notation as

σ xx   cos 2 θ sin 2 θ −2sin θ cosθ  σ 

   2
  11 
σ
 yy  =  sin θ cos 2 θ 2sin θ cosθ  σ 22 
   2  τ 
 τ xy  sin θ cosθ
2
− sin θ cosθ cos θ − sin θ   12 


The strain transforms the same as stress if we use tensor strain

(engineering shear strain is not a tensor quantity). Recall that
Composite Laminate 13
engineering shear strain is twice the tensor shear strain, i.e.,
γ 12 = 2ε12 .

ε xx = c 2ε11 + s 2ε 22 − 2 scε12
ε yy = s 2ε11 + c 2ε 22 + 2 scε12
ε xy = scε11 − scε 22 + (c 2 − s 2 )ε12

This last relation can be written in matrix notation as

 ε xx   cos 2
θ sin 2 θ −2sin θ cosθ   ε11 
   2
 
 ε yy  =  sin θ cos 2 θ 2sin θ cosθ   ε 22 
   2  ε = γ / 2 
ε
 xy = γ xy / 2  sin θ cosθ − sin θ cosθ 2
cos θ − sin θ   12 12 


Note that the square matrices in and are identical.

Define the transformation matrix [T] as
Composite Laminate 14

 cos 2 θ sin 2 θ 2sin θ cosθ 

 
[T ] =  sin 2 θ cos 2 θ −2sin θ cosθ 
 2 2 
 − sin θ cosθ sin θ cosθ cos θ − sin θ 


Note that [T] is not the square matrix in and , but is similar.
Inverting this matrix, we obtain

 cos 2 θ sin 2 θ −2sin θ cosθ 

 
−1
[T ] =  sin 2 θ cos 2 θ 2sin θ cosθ 
 2 2 
sin θ cosθ − sin θ cosθ cos θ − sin θ 


Comparing equation and , we see that can be written in terms of

[T ]−1:
Composite Laminate 15
σ xx  σ 11 
  −1  
 yy  [ ]  22 
σ = T σ
  τ 
τ
 xy   12 
Likewise for the strain,

 ε xx   ε11 
  −1  
 ε yy  = [ T ]  ε 22 
  ε = γ / 2 
ε
 xy = γ xy / 2   12 12 

Note that equation can be inverted to obtain:

 ε11   ε xx 
   
 ε 22  = [T]  ε yy 
ε = γ / 2   
 12 12  ε
 xy = γ xy / 2 
Composite Laminate 16
Now we are ready to transform the compliance from material (1,2)
directions to global (x,y) directions. First substitute equation into
equation to obtain:

σ 11   ε11   ε xx 
     
σ 22  = [Q ]  ε 22  = [Q][ T ]  ε yy 
τ  ε = γ / 2   
 12   12 12  ε
 xy = γ xy / 2 

Now substitute equation into equation to obtain

σ xx  σ11   ε xx 
  −1   −1  
σ yy  = [ T ] σ 22  = [ T ] [Q][ T ]  ε yy 
  τ   
τ
 xy   12  ε
 xy = γ xy / 2 

So we have now the stress-strain relation in x-y directions but

written in terms of the stiffness in 1-2 material directions:
Composite Laminate 17
σ xx   ε xx 
  −1  
σ yy  = [ T ] [Q][ T ]  ε yy 
   
τ
 xy  ε
 xy = γ xy / 2 

The triple matrix product must then be the transformed lamina

stiffness matrix in x-y global directions. Hence, we define the
transformed lamina stiffness matrix in x-y global directions by:

−1
[Q ] = [ T ] [Q ][ T ]
and becomes

σ xx   ε xx   Q11 Q12 Q16   ε xx 

      
σ yy  = [Q ]  ε yy  = Q21 Q22 Q26   ε yy 
    Q Q62 Q66  ε xy = γ xy / 2 
τ
 xy  ε
 xy = γ xy / 2   61  

Carrying out the matrix multiplication gives:

Composite Laminate 18

Q11 = Q11 cos 4 θ + 2(Q12 + 2Q66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + Q22 sin 4 θ

Q12 = (Q11 + Q22 − 4Q66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + Q12 (sin 4 θ + cos 4 θ )

Q22 = Q11 sin 4 θ + 2(Q12 + 2Q66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + Q22 cos 4 θ

Q16 = (Q11 − Q12 − 2Q66 )sin θ cos3 θ + (Q12 − Q22 + 2Q66 )sin 3 θ cosθ
Q26 = (Q11 − Q12 − 2Q66 )sin 3 θ cosθ + (Q12 − Q22 + 2Q66 )sin θ cos3 θ
Q66 = (Q11 + Q22 − 2Q12 − 2Q66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + Q66 (sin 4 θ + cos 4 θ )

Note that the stiffness matrix [Q] now looks like an anisotropic
material since the 3x3 has nine non-zero terms. However, the
material is still orthotropic because the stiffness matrix can be
expressed in terms of 4 independent lamina stiffness terms (
Q11 , Q12 , Q22 , Q66 ).

The compliance matrix in can be similarly written. From ,

Composite Laminate 19

 ε11  σ 11 
   
ε 22  = [ S ] σ 22 
γ  τ 
 12   12 
Transform to global direction (similarly to that done for Q) to
obtain:
 ε xx  σ xx  σ xx 
     
 = [ T ] [ S ][ T ] σ yy  = [ S ] σ yy 
T
 ε yy
     
ε
 xy = γ xy / 2  τ
 xy  τ
 xy 
where
S11 = S11 cos 4 θ + (2S12 + S 66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + S 22 sin 4θ

S12 = ( S11 + S22 − S66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + S12 (sin 4 θ + cos 4 θ )

S22 = S11 sin 4 θ + (2 S12 + S66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + S22 cos 4 θ

Composite Laminate 20

S16 = (2 S11 − 2 S12 − S66 )sin θ cos3 θ − (2 S22 − 2 S12 − S66 )sin 3 θ cosθ
S26 = (2 S11 − 2S12 − S66 )sin 3 θ cosθ − (2 S22 − 2S12 − S66 )sin θ cos3 θ
S66 = 2(2S11 + S 22 − 4S12 − S 66 )sin 2 θ cos 2 θ + S 66 (sin 4 θ + cos 4 θ )