Application of Limit Analysis to Composite Materials and Structures

Abstract

The problem of determining a limit condition for a composite material in terms of average stresses by limit analysis is incompletely specified, and the limit condition so-obtained may be nonunique. Determination of average stress limit conditions in terms of properties of constituent phases is reviewed, and it is shown that under certain restrictions these limit conditions are single-valued and determinable by limit analysis. Applicability of average stress limit conditions to determining collapse loads on structures made of composite materials is then discussed.