Prediction of the Tensile Properties of Sheet Metal Composites

Sheet metal laminates are becoming more widely used because of advantageous combinations of the properties of their component parts. Theoretical equations have been developed to predict the tensile properties of laminates to aid selection from the list of many possible combinations of different materials. The equations have been used to predict the values of the tensile properties of copper/steel and aluminum/steel composites; these predictions have been checked against measured values. An empirical rule of mixtures is often used to predict the properties of laminates; the theoretical analysis has been used to justify, or otherwise, the use of this simple linear realtionship.