A composite laminate is a special orthotropic material that is modeled as a single surface with several layers of orthotropic materials. A cross-ply carbon fiber-reinforced polymer is an example of a composite laminate with orthotropic material properties for each ply. A rock is an example of an orthotropic material that does not qualify as a composite.
Differences between a composite laminate and an orthotropic material body:
| Composite Laminate |
Orthotropic Material Body |
|---|
| Uses a laminated shell element formulation. |
Uses an element formulation appropriate to the selected body. |
| In addition to other stress results, displays interlaminar shear stress between two adjacent plies. Delamination can occur between two plies with high stress values.
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Interlaminar shear stress components do not apply for bodies defined as orthotropic materials. |
Uses these unique failure criteria:- Tsai-Hill
- Tsai-Wu
- Maximum Stress
|
Uses these failure criteria:- Maximum von Mises Stress
- Maximum Shear Stress (Tresca)
- Mohr-Coulomb Stress
- Maximum Normal Stress
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