PART II JUSTIFICATIONS, COMPOSITE BEAMS, AND THICK PLATES We regroup in Part III elements that are less utilized than those in the previous parts.Nevertheless they are of fundamental interest for a better understanding of the principles for calculation of composite components.In the first two chapters, we focused on anisotropic properties and fracture strength of orthotropic materials, and then more particularly on transversely isotropic ones.The following two chapters allow us to consider that composite components in the form of beams can be "homogenized."This means that their study is analogous to the study of homogeneous beams that are common in the literature.Finally,the last chapter in this part describes with a similar procedure the behavior of thick composite plates subject to transverse loadings. 2003 by CRC Press LLCPART III JUSTIFICATIONS, COMPOSITE BEAMS, AND THICK PLATES We regroup in Part III elements that are less utilized than those in the previous parts. Nevertheless they are of fundamental interest for a better understanding of the principles for calculation of composite components. In the first two chapters, we focused on anisotropic properties and fracture strength of orthotropic materials, and then more particularly on transversely isotropic ones. The following two chapters allow us to consider that composite components in the form of beams can be “homogenized.” This means that their study is analogous to the study of homogeneous beams that are common in the literature. Finally, the last chapter in this part describes with a similar procedure the behavior of thick composite plates subject to transverse loadings. TX846_Frame_C13 Page 257 Monday, November 18, 2002 12:29 PM © 2003 by CRC Press LLC