Predictions of a generalized maximum-shear-stress failure criterion for certain fibrous composite laminates

The use of the author's generalization of the maximum-shear-stress failure criterion for fibre/polymer composites is illustrated by sample solutions of specific problems provided by the organizers of the world-wide failure exercise. New refinements of the theory justify an earlier approximation of it for use with carbon/epoxy laminates and remove a degree of conservatism when the original theory was applied to glass-fibre-reinforced polymer composites. The intent of this exercise is to compare the independent predictions for these same problems made by several originators of composite failure models and, simultaneously, to compare the predictions with test data. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.