What is material property orientation in orthotropic materials?

[mikewinifred]

i have got 3 questions...
What is material property orientation in orthotropic materials...in what way it differs from material distribution with respect to two or three planes?..and how does it affect the material behaviour?

[Astronuc]

What's the significance of orthotropic?

Think along the lines of 'a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link'.


In an isotropic material, the strength (and stress-strain relationship) is the same in the direction of the principal axes, i.e. there is no directional dependence.

http://www.efunda.com/formulae/solid_mechanics/mat_mechanics/hooke_orthotropic.cfm