A simple plasticity model for predicting transverse composite response and failure

This paper reports on the development of a simple three-parameter nonlinear constitutive model for composite materials. The model has been calibrated using two independent sets of experimental data in the literature. With knowledge of the critical tensile strain at failure of the matrix constituent, it is used to predict failure loads for load cases involving through-thickness compression and interlaminar shear, in which shear strengths increase with through-thickness compressive stresses. Good correlation with the experiments has been achieved.