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Modelling of thick composites using a layerwise laminate theory
Author(s) -
Robbins D. H.,
Reddy J. N.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
international journal for numerical methods in engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.421
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1097-0207
pISSN - 0029-5981
DOI - 10.1002/nme.1620360407
Subject(s) - finite element method , composite laminates , structural engineering , materials science , piecewise , displacement (psychology) , bending , degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry) , stiffness , composite material , mathematics , mathematical analysis , engineering , physics , psychology , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
The layerwise laminate theory of Reddy 1 is used to develop a layerwise, two‐dimensional, displacement‐based, finite element model of laminated composite plates that assumes a piecewise continuous distribution of the tranverse strains through the laminate thickness. The resulting layerwise finite element model is capable of computing interlaminar stresses and other localized effects with the same level of accuracy as a conventional 3‐D finite element model. Although the total number of degrees of freedom are comparable in both models, the layerwise model maintains a 2‐D‐type data structure that provides several advantages over a conventional 3‐D finite element model, e.g. simplified input data, ease of mesh alteration, and faster element stiffness matrix formulation. Two sample problems are provided to illustrate the accuracy of the present model in computing interlaminar stresses for laminates in bending and extension.