Applicability Range of the One-Parameter Ply Plasticity Model for Prediction of the Nonlinear Response of Laminates

A one-parameter lamina plasticity model is applied to predict the nonlinear deformation of an E-glass / epoxy cross-ply composite laminate under quasi-static uniaxial tensile loading at different angles to the material orthotropy axes. It is shown that the laminate theory yields accurate results within the plastic strain range covered in unidirectional continuous-fibre reinforced composite tests that are used to determine the plasticity model parameters.