On the mechanical and mathematical properties of the stiffness and compliance coupling tensors of composite anisotropic laminates

Abstract

The problem of determining the general and relevant mechanical and mathematical properties of the stiffness, [Formula: see text], and compliance, [Formula: see text], tensors describing the bending-extension coupling of anisotropic laminates is addressed in this paper. A set of theoretical results is proposed, showing some peculiarities of these tensors, from the mathematical and mechanical point of view. The theoretical analysis and the mechanical results are obtained through an extensive use of the so-called polar formalism, introduced as early as 1979 by Prof. G. Verchery.