Chapter 2 Macromechanical Analysis of a Lamina

Comparison of Failure Theories

Dr. Autar Kaw

Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620

Courtesy of the Textbook

Mechanics of Composite Materials by Kaw
 The failure theories are generally based on the normal and shear
strengths of a unidirectional lamina.

 An isotropic material generally has two strength parameters:

normal strength and shear strength.

 In the case of a unidirectional lamina, the five strength parameters are:

 Longitudinal tensile strength (σ ) T

(σ )
1 ult
C
 Longitudinal compressive strength
(σ )
1 ult
 Transverse tensile strength T

(σ )
2 ult
 Transverse compressive strength C
2 ult
 In-plane shear strength (τ 12 )ult
 Tsai and Wu compared the results from various
failure theories to some experimental results. He
considered an angle lamina subjected to a uniaxial
load in the x-direction.

2 y
1
θ
x
σx σx

FIGURE 2.33
Off-axis loading in the x-direction
 − (σ1C )ult ≤ σ 1 ≤ (σ1T )ult

− (σ C2 )ult ≤ σ 2 ≤ (σ T2 )ult

− (τ 12 )ult ≤ τ 12 ≤ (τ 12 )ult

2 y
1
θ
x
σx σx
FIGURE 2.34
Maximum normal tensile stress in x-direction
as function of angle of lamina using maximum
stress failure theory
 − (ε1C )ult < ε1 <(ε1T )ult

− (ε C2 )ult < ε 2 <(εT2 )ult

− (γ 12 )ult <γ 12<(γ 12 )ult

2 y
1
θ
x
σx σx FIGURE 2.35
Maximum normal tensile stress in x-direction
as function of angle of lamina using maximum
Strain failure theory
 2 2 2
 σ1   σ1 σ 2   σ 2   τ12 
 T  −  T 2 +  T  +   <1
 (σ1 ) ult   (σ 1 ) ult   (σ 2 ) ult   ( τ12) ult 

2 y
1
θ
x
σx σx

FIGURE 2.36
Maximum normal tensile stress in
x-direction as function of angle of
lamina using Tsai-Hill failure theory
 H1σ 1 + H 2σ 2 + H 6τ 12 + H11σ 12 + H 22σ 22 + H 66τ 122 + 2 H12σ 1σ 2 < 1

2 y
1
θ
x
σx σx

FIGURE 2.37
Maximum normal tensile stress in
x-direction as function of angle of
lamina using Tsai-Wu failure theory
S = 16.33 (Maximum Stress failure theory),
= 16.33 (Maximum Strain failure theory),
= 10.94 (Tsai-Hill failure theory),
= 16.06 (Modified Tsai-Hill failure theory),
= 22.39 (Tsai-Wu failure theory)

2 y
1
θ
x
σx σx