Transverse moduli of continuous-fibre-reinforced polymers

This paper presents a closed-form micromechanical equation for predicting the transverse modulus, E-2, Of continuous-fibre-reinforced polymers. The equation was derived from a relatively simple mechanics-of-materials analysis of a repeating square cell. The assumptions made concerning the stress distributions and the typical matrix and fibre properties enabled the derivation of a closed-form expression. The present equation is in good agreement with a 3D finite-element hexagonal cell model and with Aboudi's method-of-cells equation, both complex approaches known to provide accurate predictions. Furthermore, combining the equation developed with other well-known equations, enables the calculation of the nu(23) transverse Poisson ratio, thus completing the set of layer elastic constants needed for 3D stress analyses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.