Abstract

VERIJENKO, V.E.; ADALI, S.  and  SUMMERS, E.B.. Accurate finite elements based on shear deformation theory for the analysis of laminated composite plates. R&D j. (Matieland, Online) [online]. 1993, vol.9, pp.24-32. ISSN 2309-8988.

A finite element formulation for the analysis of laminated composite plates based on a higher-order theory is presented. This formulation leads into a discrete-continuous scheme where the surface of the laminate is discretized with each finite element forming a heterogeneous continuum through the thickness. Rectangular and triangular finite elements are formulated. The degrees of freedom of the nodal points of these elements are independent of the number of layers. Nonlinear laws governing the variation of the components of the displacement vector and of the stress and strain tensors through the thickness of layers are taken into account. The laminate may also exhibit heterogeneous properties in the plane of the plate, where elements with different properties are used as an approximation. The elements are applied to the bending of laminated plates with various loading and boundary conditions and numerical results are obtained. The solutions presented are compared with those obtained using the three-dimensional elasticity theory, and with the closed form solutions of other authors. It is shown that the present approach reduces the number of unknown variables and broadens the field of application of the finite element method.

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