Micromechanics-Unidirectional-Strength-Transverse Tension

The transverse tensile strength refers to the strength of a composite lamina when subjected to tension load in a direction perpendicular to the fiber direction. The transverse tensile strength of a unidirectional lamina can be measured following a standard test procedure, ASTM D3039. However, when a lamina is part of a laminate, the transverse strength appears to increase. Because of this, the strength of a lamina embedded in a laminate is called in-situ strength. The value of in-situ strength grows proportionally to the inverse of the square root of the thickness of the lamina; the thinner the lamina, the higher the in-situ strength. Obviously, transverse strength is not an invariant material property if it's value increases inversely to the square root of the lamina thickness. As it is explained in the textbook, the invariant material property that controls transverse tensile strength is the fracture toughness of the material, from which the in-situ transverse tensile strength can be predicted.

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