ABSTRACT
It is expected that readers of this chapter will have previously studied a subject known as “mechanics of materials” (also called “strength of materials”). One of the primary topics considered in mechanics of materials is the structural behavior of a prismatic beam. A prismatic beam is defined as a long, slender, and initially straight structural member whose cross-section does not vary along its length. Typical objectives are to determine the stresses, strains, and deflections induced in a prismatic beam by various types of external loads. Many excellent books are available to support such studies, a few of which are listed here as References 1-5. In virtually all of these references it is assumed that the beam is composed of an isotropic material, or at most is a beam in which different layers of isotropic materials are bonded or bolted together to form the overall beam.* In contrast, in this chapter we will consider the behavior of prismatic beams produced using laminated anisotropic composite materials.
