| Abstract: | An interlaminar-shear-stress analysis developed earlier by Tsai et al. (1990, Micro-cracking-Induced Damage in Composites) for a φm/θn], bi-directional composite laminate is used to solve the case of a cross-ply 0m/90n]x laminate with the 90° layer only or both layers cracked under pure shear loading. Strains, forces and laminate shear modulus reduction due to matrix cracking were obtained. Experimental results for shear modulus as a function of crack densities were obtained by a simple shear test and they agree very well with the theoretical prediction. |
