Orthotropic Materials

An orthotropic material has different properties along three mutually perpendicular material directions. Composites, wood, and layered materials often require orthotropic definitions.

Orthotropic material models require directional elastic constants, shear moduli, and Poisson's ratios. The material coordinate system must be defined correctly because stiffness depends on orientation.

Incorrect material orientation can produce large errors in displacement, stress, and failure-related quantities.