Reinforced Sheets for Load Envelopes Which Combine Tension and Shear

Abstract

Summary An exact analysis is made of reinforced sheets having three fibre directions using netting analysis. Load envelopes of shear combined with both uniaxial and biaxial tension are assumed and optimum fibre arrangements are determined on the assumption that limits exist on the compressive and tensile forces which may be developed in a fibre. Such optimum fibre arrangements are compared with the best-arranged isotropic reinforced sheets and with hypothetical solid sheets having the same properties as the fibres. Elastic constants are derived for the optimum systems. The total allowable load envelopes of the optimum arrangements are found and are related to the prescribed load envelopes.