• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.559-566
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• 2003

In this study, we present a new highly accurate two-dimensional curved composite beam element. The present element, which is based on the Hellinger-Reissner variational principle and classical lamination theory, employs consistent stress parameters corresponding to cubic displacement polynomials with additional nodeless degrees to resolve the numerical difficulties due to the spurious constraints. The stress parameters are eliminated and the nodeless degrees are condensed out to obtain the (9x9) element stiffness matrix. It should be noted that the stacking sequences without transverse deformation to the load plane makes a two dimensional analysis of curved composite beams practically useful . Several numerical examples confirm the superior locking-free behavior of the present higher-order laminated curved beam element.