1

Halpin-Tsai Equations
SE 253A Mechanics of Laminated Composite Structures
Lecture Supplemental Pack 3
Instructor: Prof. Hyonny Kim
Department of Structural Engineering
University of California, San Diego
2
Halpin-Tsai Equations
Original reference citation: J ohn C. Halpin and Stephen W. Tsai, Effects of Environmental
Factors on Composite Materials,AFRL-TR-67-423, J une 1969.
Additional reference: J .C. Halpin and J . L. Kardos, The Halpin-Tsai Equations: A Review,
Polymer Engineering and Science, 16(5), 1976, pp. 344-352.
Following figures in this package extracted from: Robert M. J ones, Mechanics of Composite
Materials, 2nd Ed., Taylor & Francis, 1999.
Longitudinal Modulus
Major Poissons Ratio
m m f f
E c E c E + =
1
m m f f
c c + =
12
For E
2
, G
12
, and
23
:
f
f
m
c
c
M
M

+
=
1
1

=
m
f
m
f
M
M
M
M
1
where:
M = composite values of E
2
, G
12
, and
23
M
f
= fiber values of E
2
, G
12
, and
23
M
m
= matrix values of E
2
, G
12
, and
23
= geometry factor for E
2
, G
12
, and
23
- function of fiber geometry, packing
arrangement, and loading conditions
- found by Elasticity solutions, and by fitting to
other solutions (e.g., FEA of RVEs)
3
For E
2
F
i
g
.

f
r
o
m

R
o
b
e
r
t

M
.

J
o
n
e
s
,

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

o
f

C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e

M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l
s
,

2
n
d

E
d
.
,

T
a
y
l
o
r

&

F
r
a
n
c
i
s
,

1
9
9
9
.
4
For G
12
F
i
g
.

f
r
o
m

R
o
b
e
r
t

M
.

J
o
n
e
s
,

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

o
f

C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e

M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l
s
,

2
n
d

E
d
.
,

T
a
y
l
o
r

&

F
r
a
n
c
i
s
,

1
9
9
9
.
5
b
a
2 =
For E
2
F
i
g
.

f
r
o
m

R
o
b
e
r
t

M
.

J
o
n
e
s
,

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

o
f

C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e

M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l
s
,

2
n
d

E
d
.
,

T
a
y
l
o
r

&

F
r
a
n
c
i
s
,

1
9
9
9
.
6
b
a
log .
log
73 1
=
For G
12
F
i
g
.

f
r
o
m

R
o
b
e
r
t

M
.

J
o
n
e
s
,

M
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
s

o
f

C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e

M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l
s
,

2
n
d

E
d
.
,

T
a
y
l
o
r

&

F
r
a
n
c
i
s
,

1
9
9
9
.
7
Sample Calculation Halpin-Tsai
Glass Fibers:
E
f
= 73 GPa,
f
= 0.22, c
f
= 0.55
Epoxy Matrix:
E
f
= 3.5 GPa,
f
= 0.35, c
f
= 0.45
For round fibers is square array, geometry factor for E
2
and G
12
are:

E2
= 2

G12
= 1
Elastic properties calculated to be:
E
1
= 41.7 GPa
E
2
= 13.1 GPa
G
12
= 3.93 GPa

12
= 0.28
G
f
and G
m
approximated by
) 1 ( 2 +
E
8
Example Calculation Comparison to Other Models
Glass Fibers:
E
f
= 73 GPa,
f
= 0.22, c
f
= 0.55
Epoxy Matrix:
E
f
= 3.5 GPa,
f
= 0.35, c
f
= 0.45
G
f
and G
m
approximated by
) 1 ( 2 +
E
3.8 0.28 8.6 39 Test Data*
3.93 0.28 13.1 41.7
Halpin-Tsai
(round, sq. array)
3.64 0.26 10.8 41.7 Sq. Fiber
2.74 0.28 8.21 41.7 Hybrid VR
2.74 0.34 7.35 7.35 Reuss
17.0 0.22 41.8 41.8 Voigt
G
12
(GPa)
12
E
2
(GPa) E
1
(GPa) Model
* test data from Daniel & Ishai textbook for c
f
=0.55