1
Strength and Failure Analysis
10.
x
y
z
Equivalent Volume
of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
(To understand this section, please first review Chapter 9.)
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes (pdf and pptx files) / Mehmet Zor
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July 16, 2026
10.1 Objectives of This Chapter: To determine the tensile, compressive and shear strength limits of the Zor equivalent volume described in Section 9.4, and to perform stress-strain calculations and failure evaluations for different loading conditions.
n layered structure
Zor equivalent volume
1
i
2
n
z
y
x
?
3. While determining the strength limit of the equivalent volume for a loading type, the weakest layer that will fail first under that loading is taken as the basis. The equivalent stress that brings this weakest layer to its own strength limit is determined. This equivalent stress is accepted as the strength-limit value of the equivalent volume.
4. . In the Zor approach, failure evaluation is performed in terms of the equivalent volume of the structure. In this way, rather than local failures that may occur in the layers beforehand, it is determined whether the structure as a whole has failed or not. (In CLT, failure evaluation is performed for each layer.)
10.2 General Framework
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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y
x
i
y
x
i
1
i
2
n
Fx
z
y
x
k
Fx
1
2
i
n
k
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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(9.4.14)
(9.4.15)
;
y
x
i
(10.1.a)
(10.1.b)
(10.1.c)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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Substituting Equations (9.4.14 and 9.4.15) into Equations (10.1 a–c) and rearranging, we obtain:
(10.2.a)
(10.2.b)
(10.2.c)
Layer stress coefficients:
(10.3.a)
(10.3.b)
(10.3.c)
(10.3.d)
(10.3.e)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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Local stresses before failure in terms of the stress coefficients:
(10.4.a)
(10.4.b)
(10.4.c)
(10.5)
(10.6.a)
(10.6.b)
(10.6.c)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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10.3.2 Application of the Failure Criterion to the Layers
(10.7.a)
Substituting the local stresses in Equation (10.6), which are valid at the moment of failure, into Equation (10.7.a), we obtain:
(10.7.b)
(10.7.c)
(10.7.d)
(i =1,2, …n )
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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(10.8.a)
Substituting the local stresses in Equation (10.6), which are valid at the moment of failure, into Equation (10.8.a), we obtain:..>>
(i =1,2, …n )
(10.8.b)
(10.8.c)
(10.8.d)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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(10.9)
From Equation (7.9), the coefficients are:
According to the Tsai–Hill failure criterion: :
According to the Hoffman failure criterion:
According to the Mises-Hencky failure criterion:
(10.10.a)
(10.10.b)
(10.10.c)
(10.10.d)
(10.11.a)
(10.11.b)
(10.11.c)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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(10.13)
(10.12)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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(10.15)
(10.14)
(10.16)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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y
x
i
(10.1.a)
(10.1.b)
(10.1.c)
(10.17.a)
(10.17.b)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Substituting Equations (10.17.a and 10.17.b) into Equations (10.1 a–c) and rearranging, we obtain:
Layer stress coefficients:
(10.18.a)
(10.18.b)
(10.18.c)
(10.19.a)
(10.19.b)
(10.19.c)
(10.19.d)
(10.19.e)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Local stresses before failure in terms of the stress coefficients:
(10.20.a)
(10.20.b)
(10.20.c)
(10.21)
(10.22.a)
(10.22.b)
(10.22.c)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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10.4.2.a According to the Tsai–Hill Failure Criterion:
10.4.2.b According to the Modified Tsai–Hill Failure Criterion :
(10.24.a)
(10.24.b)
(10.23)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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(10.25)
(10.26)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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(10.27)
(10.28)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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y
x
(10.29)
(10.30)
(10.31)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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(10.34)
(10.32)
(10.33)
From the transformation Equations 6.3 a–c:
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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(10.35)
(10.7.a)
At the moment of failure
(10.36)
After calculations are performed for all layers, from Equation (10.29) :
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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(10.37)
At the moment of failure
(10.38)
(10.8.a)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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(10.9)
In the case of pure shear, at the moment of failure:
(10.39)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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(10.14)
In the case of pure shear,
at the moment of failure:
(10.40)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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10.8 Stress–Strain Calculations in the Zor Equivalent Volume :
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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July 16, 2026
Example 10.1
480
480
00
6mm
Fx
x
y
Fy
Fx
Fy
200mm
200mm
(The structure, load, and material properties in Example 8.2 were used.)
E1 | E2 | ν12 | G12 | | | | | |
(GPa) | (GPa) |
| (GPa) | (MPa) | (MPa) | (MPa) | (MPa) | (MPa) |
81 | 30 | 0,35 | 15 | 101 | 180 | 25 | 50 | 12 |
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Solution:
Step 2. Calculation of the Elastic Properties of the Zor Equivalent Volume:
First, the elastic properties of each layer with respect to the global axes are determined:
The cross-Poisson ratios are calculated from Equation (9.1):
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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July 16, 2026
From eqs. (9.4.51):
The cross-Poisson ratios are calculated from Equation (9.1):
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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July 16, 2026
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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July 16, 2026
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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July 16, 2026
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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In the Zor Model, for the case of pure shear, the shear modulus is obtained by the Voigt-type volumetric average.
From eq. (9.4.33):
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Step 3: The Strength Limits of the Zor Equivalent Volume Are Calculated (According to the Modified Tsai–Hill Criterion):
a. Calculation of the Layer Stress Coefficients:
From eq. (10.3)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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From Eqs. (10.3)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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From Eqs. (10.19)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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From eq. (10.8.c), (i=1 , 3)
The equivalent stress that will cause failure of layers 1 and 3
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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From eq. (10.8.c) , (i=2)
According to Equation (10.8.d), the tensile strength of the equivalent volume in the x direction:
The equivalent stress that will cause failure of layer 2
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Writing Equation (10.8.c) for the compression case :
The equivalent stress that will cause failure of layers 1 and 3
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
(i=1 , 3)
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July 16, 2026
the compressive strength of the equivalent volume in the x direction:
The equivalent compressive stress that will cause failure of layer 2:
Writing Equation (10.8.c) for the compression case : (i=2)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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From Eq. (10.24) , (i=1 , 3)
The equivalent tensile stress that will cause failure of layers 1 and 3
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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The equivalent tensile stress that will cause failure of layer 2
the tensile strength of the equivalent volume in the y direction:
From Eq. (10.24) , (i=2)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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The equivalent compressive stress that will cause failure of layers 1 and 3
Writing Equation (10.24.b) for the compression case (i=1 , 3)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Writing Equation (10.24.b) for the compression case (i=2)
The equivalent compressive stress that will cause failure of layers 2
the compressive strength of the equivalent volume in the y direction
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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The equivalent shear stress that will cause failure of layers 1 and 3
From eq. (10.38)
From eq (10.31):
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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July 16, 2026
The equivalent shear stress that will cause failure of layer 2.
From eq. (10.38)
From eq. (10.31) :
From eq.(10.29):
Shear strength of the entire structure (equivalent volume)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Step 4 – Calculation of the Stresses in the Equivalent Volume
6mm
x
y
200mm
200mm
200mm
6mm
200mm
x
y
Laminated Structure
Equivalent Volume and Forces
200mm
6mm
200mm
x
y
Equivalent Volume and Stresses
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Step 5 – Failure Check of the Equivalent Volume According to the Modified Tsai–Hill Criterion
For a single orthotropic layer, the no-failure condition of this criterion is written in the local 1–2 axes as given in Equations 7.7 or 10.8.a. The equivalent volume of the Zor model exhibits orthotropic behavior in the global axes. Therefore, for the Zor equivalent volume, this condition can be adapted to the global x–y coordinate system as shown in Equation (10.41).
Meaning of the values in the denominator:
(10.41)
Equivalent stresses calculated for this example:
In all cases:
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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6mm
200mm
x
y
200mm
6mm
x
y
b-) In order to compare the local stress results with the CLT results in Example 8.2, we must also calculate the local stresses occurring in the layers in the Zor Model solution. This is because CLT gives results on a layer basis. However, it should also be remembered that, in strength calculations or failure checks in the Zor Model, the equivalent volume is taken as the basis, and there is no need for the layer stress or strain. According to the principle of superposition, we can apply the external forces successively and calculate the local stresses occurring in each layer.
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Total Local Stresses in the Layers and Comparisons with the CLT Results:
Local normal stress in the 1 direction:
Local normal stress in the 2 direction:
Total local stresses in layers 1 and 3
Shear stress in the 1–2 plane:
Total local stresses in layer 2
Local normal stress in the 1 direction:
Local normal stress in the 2 direction:
Shear stress in the 1–2 plane :
CLT
Zor
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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200mm
6mm
200mm
x
y
z
h
b
x
z
At the instant of failure :
(total bending moment that will bring the entire structure to the strength limit)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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Example 10.2-)
x
y
200mm
200mm
6mm
Solution)
Stresses occurring in the equivalent volume
200mm
6mm
200mm
x
y
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes / Mehmet Zor
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Calculation of the Stiffness Matrix of the Equivalent Volume:
(from Equation 9.4.50):
The material properties calculated in Example 10.1 are substituted into the matrix:
Compliance Matrix of the Equivalent Volume:
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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The strains in Equivalent Volume:
The total elongation/shortening occurring in the equivalent volume :
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
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200mm
6mm
200mm
x
y
z
b
h
From Eq. (10.41)
Failure occurs.
b-)
10. Strength and Failure Analysis of Laminated Structures Using the Zor Model
Mechanics of Composite Materials- Lecture Notes (pdf and pptx files) / Mehmet Zor