A micromechanical model for the prediction of the lamina longitudinal compression strength of composite laminates

This paper describes a new numerical model for the prediction of the lamina longitudinal compression strength. The model assumes failure occurs by fibre microbuckling and takes into account initial fibre misalignments and matrix non-linear stress-strain behaviour. The results obtained with the 2D-base and the 3D-extended formulations agree quite well. with those of Finite Element models presented in a previous paper. Model predictions were compared with experimental data supplied by the authors' partners in a Joint Research Project. The 3D formulation proved to be the most accurate. Agreement with the experimental data is satisfactory, particularly in view of the numerous relevant variables and inevitable simplifications implicit in the models.