Two-Dimensional relationship of compliance and stiffness matrix

A thin plate is a prismatic member having a small thickness, and it is the case for a typical
lamina. If a plate is thin and there are no out-of-plane loads, it can be considered to be under
plane stress. If the upper and lower surfaces of the plate are free from external loads, then σ3 = 0,
τ31 = 0,and τ23 = 0.

For an orthotropic plane stress problem can then be written as

(1)

where Sij are the elements of the compliance matrix. Note the four independent compliance
elements in the matrix. Inverting Equation (1) gives the stress–strain relationship as

(2)

where Qij are the reduced stiffness coefficients, which are related to the compliance coefficients
as

(3)
 Relationship of Compliance and Stiffness Matrix to Engineering Elastic Constants of a
Lamina

Equation (1) and Equation (2) show the relationship of stress and strain through the compliance
[S] and reduced stiffness [Q] matrices. However, stress and strains are generally related through
engineering elastic constants. For a unidirectional lamina, these engineering elastics constants
are

E1 = longitudinal Young’s modulus

E2 = transverse Young’s modulus

ν12 = major Poisson’s ratio

G12 = in-plane shear modulus

Experimentally, the four independent engineering elastic constants are measured as follows and
can be related to the four independent elements of the compliance matrix [S] of Equation (1).

 Apply a pure tensile load in direction 1 (Figure 1), i.e.,

Figure 1

Then, from Equation (1)

  Apply a pure tensile load in direction 2 (Figure 2), i.e. ,

Figure 2

Then, from Equation (1)

  Apply a pure shear stress in the plane 1–2 (Figure 3), i.e.

Figure 3

Then, from Equation (1)

Thus, we have proved that

Also, the stiffness coefficients Qij are related to the engineering constants

, , ,
Problems:

1. Using the following data with respect to unidirectional graphite/epoxy lamina obtain the
reduced stiffness and compliance matrices.

E1= 181 GPa, E2= 10.3 GPa, ν12 = 0.28, G12 = 7.17 GPa

The compliance matrix elements are

The minor Poisson’s ratio is

The reduced stiffness matrix [Q] elements are

The compliance matrix

Using Equation (1), the strains in the 1–2 coordinate system are

Thus, the strains in the local axes are