University of Zagreb

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Course Title
Semester*

Code

Mechanics of Composite Materials

Program**

No of hours per week:

lectures + exercises
2
+ 1
ME, AE
Professor Ivica Smojver

Total

ECTS credits

30+15
4
6 or 8
18781
Lecturer:
Course objective:
Familiarization with the basic expressions and methods used in the mechanics of composite structures.

Prerequisite:
Mechanics, Strength of Materials
Learning outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the specifics of mechanical behavior of layered composites compared to isotropic
materials.
Apply constitutive equations of composite materials and understand mechanical behavior at micro,
macro and meso level.
Determine stresses and strains in composites.
Apply failure criteria and critically evaluate the results.
Understand mechanical behavior of composites due to variation in temperature and moisture.
Course contents
Lecture/Topic:
1.

Mechanical properties of fiber and matrix. Classification of composites. Types of reinforcement.

Nomenclature.

2.

Basic production technologies.

3.

Fundamental equations of micromechanics. Rule of mixtures. Halpin-Tsai equations. Expressions based on

theory of elasticity.

4.

Fundamental equations of macromechanics. Derivation of elasticity tensor symmetry

5.

Elasticity matrix of an anisotropic, orthotropic, isotropic, transversally isotropic material

6.

Transformation of mechanics properties - material system axes rotation

7.

Constitutive equation of composite materials. Derivation of A, B, D matrices

8.

Analysis of symmetric, anti-symmetric and other characteristic layering setups

9.

Stresses and strains in layered composites

10.

Thermal properties of composite phases. Thermal stresses in composites. Influence of manufacturing.

11.

Failure criteria. Maximum stress criterion. Maximum strain criterion. Tsai-Wu criterion. Tsai-Hill criterion.
Hashins criterion.

12.

Firs-ply failure and last-ply failure criteria

13.

Damage in composites. Fiber breakage. Matrix cracking. Pull out. Delaminations.

14.

Joints in composite structures.

15.

Examples of composite structures.

Recommended literature: Hyer, M. W.: Stress Analysis of Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials, McGraw
Hill, Boston, 1998
Jones, R.M.: Mechanics of Composite Materials, Taylor and Francis, 1999

University of Zagreb
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Type of exercises:

x auditory;

laboratory;

practicum;

design;

x final exam;
x continuous testing;
other
Examination :
Croatian
Language
YES
Tutorials in English for incoming students
* Bachelor program: Semester 1-7, Master program: Semester 8-10
** ME Mechanical Engineering, NA Naval Architecture, AE Aeronautical Engineering

other