A strain‐based parametric biaxial failure criterion for fiber‐reinforced composites

Abstract Orthotropic, fiber‐reinforced composite laminae under biaxial plane stress loading conditions are considered. A new strain‐based strength criterion for such laminae is proposed. This failure criterion, which is cast in parametric form, is completely general. A parametric equation that is expressed as a Fourier series is proposed for describing the failure surface for the laminae. This equation is shown to be valid for most fiber‐reinforced composite laminae through comparisons with experimental data taken from the literature. The advantages of the failure theory are discussed in comparison with the quadratic form of the tensor polynomial theory. Also presented is a biaxial apparatus for testing cruciform specimens under biaxial loading conditions. Efforts under way to characterize composite laminae and laminates under complex stress states are discussed.