A simple model is devised to predict the response of a chiral sculptured thin film (STF) to applied axial stress. The film is assumed to be made of small needles arranged helicoidally to mimic the film microstructure. A reference compliance matrix is obtained using the combination of Eshelby tensors and the Mori-Tanaka average stress provided by Tandon and Weng for homogeneous uniaxial composite materials. Equations for axial loading of the chiral STF are developed and solved analytically, and two composite compliances are defined. Parametric studies are carried out to relate the response to microstructural details. [References: 26]
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