Mixed homogenization method for effective properties of laminated composites

A mixed homogenization method is developed by combining the general homogenization method with 3D-elastic sublaminate method. For a laminate it is a three- dimensional problem to determine the stiffness by the general homogenization method, while the 3D-elastic sublaminate method meets difficult in dealing with damaged laminate stiffness. The mixed homogenization method reduces the problem to two-dimensional scale for determining laminate stiffnesses with a potential advantage in calculating damaged stiffnesses. Comparison of the new method with general 3D-homogenization method shows excellent accuracy.