A strain-based tensor polynomial failure criterion for anisotropic materials

A strain-based tensor polynomial failure criterion for anisotropic materials is proposed with explicit derivations given in both strain and stress space. The physical distinction between this strain-based criterion and the current stress-based tensorial criterion of Tsai and Wu, is clarified. The viability of the proposed criterion is shown by its application to a graphite—epoxy resin lamina under plane stress. The allowed loadings and failure envelope of this lamina are predicted. Comparison is made with existing failure criteria (both stress-based and strain-based), in particular the maximum stress, maximum strain, and Tsai-Wu criteria.