Homogenization of layered elastoplastic composites: Theoretical results

Exact closed-form solutions are derived that completely characterize the effective behavior of a composite material made of elastic-perfectly plastic parallel plane layers perfectly bonded together. The derivation is framed within a rigorous theory of homogenization for elastoplastic composites, and based on the fundamental fact that the in-plane part of the strain tensor and the out-of-plane part of the stress tensor are uniform throughout the composite provided no free-edge effects occur. The obtained expressions are coordinate-free and valid in the general anisotropic case. As an example, a layered composite material with isotropic constituents is examined in detail. ► The derivation is framed within a rigorous theory of homogenization. ► The constituent layers may be arbitrarily anisotropic. ► The obtained results are coordinate-free and written in a very compact way.