1.

Homogenous

Homogeneous refers to a substance that is consistent or uniform throughout

its volume. A sample taken from any part of a homogeneous substance will
have the same characteristics as a sample taken from another area.

Air is considered a homogeneous mixture of gases. Pure salt has a

homogeneous composition.

2. Heterogeneous

Heterogeneous refers to a substance that has an irregular composition.

Heterogeneous materials, such as composites, solid foams, polycrystals, or

bone, consist of clearly distinguishable constituents (or phases) that show
different mechanical and physical material properties.

A mixture of oil and water is heterogeneous because the two liquids do not
mix evenly.

3. Isotropy

Isotropy means the properties of a material are the same in all directions.

When a specific load is applied at any point in the x, y or z-axis, isotropic

materials will exhibit the same strength, stress, strain, young’s modulus and
hardness.

Metals, glasses, most liquids, and polymers are examples of isotropic

materials.

4. Anisotropy

Anisotropy means the properties of a material are different in all directions.

If a certain mechanical or thermal property is measured along the x-axis,
measurements will differ upon taking it along the y-axis or z-axis.

Composite is an example of anisotropy material.

5. Orthotropy

Orthotropy means the properties that differ along three mutually-orthogonal

twofold axes of rotational symmetry at a particular point.

A familiar example of an orthotropic material is wood.

6. Micromechanics

Micromechanics is the analysis of composite or heterogeneous materials on

the level of the individual constituents that constitute these materials.

Micromechanics is the study of composite behavior encompassing the

interaction of constituent materials, taking into account the design of single
plies of laminate in terms of volumetric composition, geometrical properties,
fiber disposition, and properties of reinforcement and matrix material

A typical example is the out-of-plane properties for unidirectional composites.

7. Macromechanics

Macromechanics is the study of composite material behavior wherein the

material is presumed to be homogeneous, and the effects of the constituent
materials are detected only as averaged apparent macroscopic properties of
the composite materials

Macromechanics of a laminate is an example.

8. Mesomechanics
Mesomechanics is a new research thrust to evolve non-continuum
mechanics for heterogeneous materials. By fostering a closer collaboration
between the materials sciences and the solid mechanics disciplines, this new
thrust seeks to apply mechanics principles to the microstructural constituents
of multiphase materials, thus placing the microstructure-mechanics
relationship on a quantitative basis.

Mesomechanics is developed at the boundary between the mechanics of

continuum and the physics of plasticity and strength of solids and examines
the stressed material as a multilevel system in which micro-, meso- and
macro levels are organically linked. Mesomechanics is the basis of the
computer-aided design of materials with required properties.