Effective Thermo-Elastic Constants for Monoclinic Laminates Containing Transverse Ply Cracks

Previous work on property changes in orthotropic laminates due to transverse ply cracking is extended to monoclinic laminates. In particular, the effective elastic moduli and thermal expansion coefficients for a [θ _m /=90° _n ] _S laminate containing transverse cracks through the middle 90° _n layers are determined analytically. The cracks are assumed to be evenly spaced and to extend across the entire laminate width. Each of the m and 90° _n ply clusters are treated as a single homogeneous plate. The two ply clusters are connected through continuity of displacements and tractions at the interface. All 13 elastic constants and 4 thermal expansion coefficients are determined. Numerical results are compared to other models.