Stresses and displacements in lamellar composites. II

For pt.I see ibid., vol.8, p.34 (1975). The two-dimensional problem in infinitesimal elasticity of a series of rectangular blocks of two different materials interleaved in a stack of infinite extent, loaded along its axis is solved by two complementary techniques. These are (i) a Fourier series solution of the Airy stress function and (ii) a finite element calculation. Tables and graphs of representative calculations are given. The shape of the distorted layers is of barrel and pincushion type and the positions of the maximum stresses differ from the predictions of more elementary calculations. The analysis is applied to the prediction of elastic moduli and failure mechanisms in real lamellar polymers modelled by long strips, such as oriented linear polyethylene, oriented polychloroprene, and cis-polyisoprene and 'elastic-hard' fibres.