Distributed damage in composites, theory and verification

A model that accounts for the effect of structural changes, resulting from the application of loads, in composite materials is developed. Such changes are incorporated in the theory through a tensor form of a damage variable. The model extends the theory of elasticity and it accounts for certain important properties observed in composite materials. The parameters involved in the theory are identified and determined from available experimental data. Back prediction of test results, for two different composite materials, verifies the theory.