3 Laminate theory: macroanalyses of

composite laminates

3.1 Introduction

It has been shown in chapter 2 that composite materials are manufactured

as laminates, consequently in analysing the lamina, the primary aim is to
obtain predictions of the average behaviour of the composite from the
properties of the components. From the point of view of the mechanical
properties of the composite lamina, the area of interest to the designer will
be its stiffness and strength; these are influenced by the following:
(a) the mechanical properties of the fibre and matrix;
(b) the fibre volume fraction of the composite;
(c) the fibre cross-section;
(d) the fibre orientation within the matrix;
(e) the method of manufacture of the composite.
The fibres are generally assumed to be linear elastic to failure and although
the resin is practically linear in the low stress region, it does exhibit non-linear
properties at higher stress levels. However, the ultimate strain of the brittle
fibre is invariably less than that of the 'ductile' matrix and consequently, to
justify the assumption of linear elasticity of the matrix, the latter's stress
would be relatively low at failure of the composite. In addition, the effect
of creep in the polymer matrix on the stress distribution within, and on the
stiffness characteristics of the composite can be minimized by ensuring that
the fibres are positioned in the most effective way, which for axial forces
would be along the line of action of the applied force. By increasing the
proportion of the glass fibre in the composite, a greater percentage of the
load will be taken by the fibres and therefore a smaller percentage will be
carried by the matrix. Conversely if the fibre content is low, the matrix
material will carry a greater percentage of the total load but in this case the
load would be sufficiently low to ensure low creep.
The following assumptions are made in the development of the relation-
ships between stresses and the corresponding strains of composite material
properties:
(a) the tension and compression characteristics are the same;
(b) the composite material has linear elastic properties.
In the following sections rigorous mathematical detail is not presented.

L. Hollaway, Polymer Composites for Civil and Structural Engineering

© Chapman & Hall 1993
64 POLYMER COMPOSITES FOR CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

3.2 Isotropic lamina

The mechanical properties of the composites are controlled by their con-

stituent properties and by the microstructural configurations (see chapter 2).
It is therefore necessary to be able to predict properties under varying
conditions. The notation of the stress components used in this chapter is
given in section 2.4, and Figure 2.4.

3.2.1 Elastic properties of a randomly orientated fibre lamina

For homogeneous isotropic laminae (i.e. randomly orientated fibres in a
polymer matrix), the stress-strain relationship for a lamina and laminates is
0" 11 = E/(l - V2)(e11 + Vezz}
0" 22 = E/(l - V2)(e22 + Ve11) (3.1a)
0"12 = [E/2(1- V)]e12
In matrix form

[",,] = [Q"
Q12

0"22 Q21 Q22

oo ] [,,,]
e22 (3.1 b)
0"12 0 0 Q33 C12

where
Qll = E(l- v2 ) = Q22
Q12 = Ev(1- v 2 ) = Q21

Q33 = E/2(1 + v) = G

or
[0"] = [Q][e]

The [Q] matrix is known as the material matrix.

There are two independent constants in these equations: these are E and v
and this indicates isotropic material properties.
The corresponding set of equations to those in eq. (3.1 b) relate the strains
to stresses as

(3.2)

where