On the equivalent flexural and shear moduli of laminated beams: Definition and determination by bending tests

Equivalent flexural and shear moduli of laminated beams of rectangular cross-section made of orthotropic layers are defined by an analytical approach. Equivalent flexural and shear modulus are defined as those that would correspond to a homogenous beam. In order to check the suitability of the moduli defined, three-point bending tests varying the span are carried out in a sandwich material and in hybrid laminates. In the case of the sandwich material, it is shown that a three-point bending test could be considered a shear test from the stiffness point of view. In the case of hybrid materials, virtual tests are carried out by the Finite Element Method. The agreement between equivalent moduli obtained from the analytical approach and the bending tests has been checked, being quite good in all cases. Finally, the effect of dimension uncertainty in three-point bending tests is analyzed by a Monte Carlo simulation.