Abstract

This paper shows a generalization of the classic isotropic plasticity theory to be applied to orthotropic or anisotropic materials. This approach assumes the existence of a real anisotropic space, and other fictitious isotropic space where a mapped fictitious problem is solved. Both spaces are related by means of a linear transformation using a fourth order transformation tensor that contains all the information concerning the real anisotropic material. The paper describes the basis of the spaces transformation proposed and the expressions of the resulting secant and tangent constitutive equations. Also details of the numerical integration of the constitutive equation are provided. Examples of application showing the good performance of the model for analysis of orthotropic materials and fibre‐reinforced composites are given.

Abstract

A general constitutive model adequate for analysis of the thermomechanical response of composite materials is presented. The model is based on the mixture of the basic substances of the composite and allows the evaluation of the interdependence between the constitutive behaviour of different compounding materials. The behaviour of the each compound is modelled by a general anisotropic thermo‐elasto‐plastic model, termed the ‘base model’. The different base models for each compound are combined using mixing theory to simulate the behaviour of the multiphase material.