Introduction to Basic Material

Type and FRP Terminology

Dr. S Guo
November 2008
AVD 0412 /1
M
y
M
y
x
M
x
y
M
xy
M
xy
M
xy
M
xy
N
x
N
y
N
x
M
x
N
y
N
xy
Type of Materials
1. Homogeneous Body --- the material properties remain constant
at every point in a direction in the body.
Quasi homogeneous
--- for low variation on macro-scale
2. Inhomogeneous (Heterogeneous)
--- material properties vary from point to point
in a direction in the body
3. Isotropic Body --- the material properties
are the same at a point in every direction
in the body
AVD 0412 /2
a unidirectional ply
on a macro-scale;
but on a micro-scale
a metallic body
(10
-6
m)
e.g. E=75 GPa G=27 GPa
Type of Materials
4. Orthotropic Body --- has three different material properties
in three mutually perpendicular directions at a point,
AND has only three mutually perpendicular planes of
material symmetry at a point in the body
a unidirectional laminate
5. Anisotropic Body --- the material
properties are all different in all
directions at a point in the body.
There is no plane of material
symmetry through a point in the body
AVD 0412 /3
a laminated body
is quasi-orthotropic ?
a unidirectional ply
E
1
, E
2
, E
3
, G
12

E
i
, G
ij

MECHANICS OF FRP COMPOSITE

1. Micromechanics
Study of the interactions of the constituent
materials (fibres and matrix) on a microscopic
scale (in fibre diameter or particle size).
On this scale, the FRP is inhomogeneous
AVD 0412 /4
2. Macromechanics
Study the FRP behaviour on a macro-scale
On this scale, the FRP is assumed
homogeneous and the properties of the
constituent materials in a direction are
averaged. This is usually applied to FRP
structural design and analysis.
Z
x
y
Micromechnics
Macromechnics
fibre /matrix
lamina
laminate
S
1 2
y
x
y x
X
Y
s
2
5
s
4
s
3
s
1
structure
Lamina / Ply --- a flat arrangement of unidirectional
or woven fibres in a matrix of typical t = 0.125 mm.
A unidirectional ply is orthotropic and assumed to be
homogeneous (on macro-scale).
Some Basic FRP Terminology
Material Axes (Principal Axes, Symmetry Axes) -- a set of mutually
perpendicular directions parallel & perpendicular to the fibre direction
AVD 0412 / 5
x
y
z
1
2
Longitudinal (fibre) --- direction-1
Transverse (matrix) --- direction-2
Z
Y
X
P
Reference Axes (structural or loading Axes)
-- a set of mutually perpendicular directions
parallel and perpendicular to a reference
direction generally coincident with the
external loading system axes
material axes 1
2
x
reference axes y
Laminate --- a stack of plies with various
fibre orientations usually bonded by the
same matrix
Some Basic FRP Terminology
The lamination can be made to tailor the
directional properties of material to meet
structural design requirements
AVD 0412 / 6
x
y
z
Type of Materials
1. Homogeneous Body -- the material properties remain constant
at every point in a direction in the body.
AVD 0412 /2*
a unidirectional ply
on a macro-scale;
but on a micro-scale
Q. It is clear for one ply or in a plane.
For a body such as a 2-ply laminate however,
the properties in direction-1 such as E
1
at a
point in ply-1 may be different from a point
in ply-2 having different fibre angle. Is this
body homogeneous?
A. Since the two plies are bonded as one laminate,
the properties should be measured for the whole
body (not individual lamina/material any more).
In this case, if the properties such as E
1
or E
x
in one direction remain the same at different points
(not separate ply), it is a homogeneous body (Macromechanics).
a metallic body
1
2
3
1
2
3