Macromechanics

Because of the inherently heterogeneous nature of composite materials, they are conveniently studied from two points of view micromechanics and macromechanics ... 

Macromechanics is the study of composite material behavior wherein the material is presumed homogeneous and the effects of the constituent materials are detected only as averaged apparent macroscopic properties of the composite material. 

In this book, attention will first be focused on macromechanics because it is the most readily appreciated of the two and the more important topic in structural design analysis. Subsequently, micromechanics will be investigated in order to gain an appreciation for how the constituents of composite materials can be proportioned and arranged to achieve certain specified strengths and stiffnesses. 

An appropriate division of the efforts just mentioned is helped by defining two areas of composite material behavior, micromechanics and macromechanics ... 

By substitution of Equation (3.2) in Equation (3.3) and recognition from macromechanics that... 

The reader should be exposed to both micromechanics and macromechanics in order to function effectively in either material design or structurai design. The main thrust of this book is in iine with structurai design and analysis requirements. Thus, the point of our addressing micromechanics is to better understand how and why composite materials function. 

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