• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.457-475
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• 2007

Analysis of transverse stresses at layer interfaces in a composite laminate has always been a challenging task. Composite structures possess highly irregular material properties at layer interfaces, which cause high shear stresses. Classical Plate Theory and First Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) use post computing to calculate transverse stresses. This paper presents Reissner Mixed Variational Theorem (RMVT) based finite element model to carry out layer-wise analysis of composite laminates. Selective integration scheme has been used. The formulation has been validated by solving numerical examples and comparing the results with those published in the literature.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.111-135
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• 2014

Based on the Reissner mixed variational theorem (RMVT), finite rectangular layer methods (FRLMs) are developed for the three-dimensional (3D) linear buckling analysis of simply-supported, fiber-reinforced composite material (FRCM) and functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates subjected to bi-axial compressive loads. In this work, the material properties of the FGM layers are assumed to obey the power-law distributions of the volume fractions of the constituents through the thickness, and the plate is divided into a number of finite rectangular layers, in which the trigonometric functions and Lagrange polynomials are used to interpolate the in- and out-of-plane variations of the field variables of each individual layer, respectively, and an h-refinement process is adopted to yield the convergent solutions. The accuracy and convergence of the RMVT-based FRLMs with various orders used for expansions of each field variables through the thickness are assessed by comparing their solutions with the exact 3D and accurate two-dimensional ones available in the literature.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.789-801
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• 2018

A weak-form formulation of finite annular prism methods (FAPM) based on Reissner's mixed variational theorem (RMVT), is developed for the quasi three-dimensional (3D) static analysis of two-directional functionally graded (FG) circular plates with various boundary conditions and under mechanical loads. The material properties of the circular plate are assumed to obey either a two-directional power-law distribution of the volume fractions of the constituents through the radial-thickness surface or an exponential function distribution varying doubly exponentially through it. These FAPM solutions of the loaded FG circular plates with both simply-supported and clamped edges are in excellent agreement with the solutions obtained using the 3D analytical approach and two-dimensional advanced plate theories available in the literature.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.291-306
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• 2021

Based on Reissner's mixed variational theorem (RMVT), the authors develop a semi-analytical finite element (FE) method for a three-dimensional (3D) bending analysis of nonhomogeneous orthotropic, complete and incomplete toroidal shells subjected to uniformly-distributed loads. In this formulation, the toroidal shell is divided into several finite annular prisms (FAPs) with quadrilateral cross-sections, where trigonometric functions and serendipity polynomials are used to interpolate the circumferential direction and meridian-radial surface variations in the primary field variables of each individual prism, respectively. The material properties of the toroidal shell are considered to be nonhomogeneous orthotropic over the meridianradial surface, such that homogeneous isotropic toroidal shells, laminated cross-ply toroidal shells, and single- and bi-directional functionally graded toroidal shells can be included as special cases in this work. Implementation of the current FAP methods shows that their solutions converge rapidly, and the convergent FAP solutions closely agree with the 3D elasticity solutions available in the literature.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.163-182
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• 2018

Based on the Reissner mixed variational theorem (RMVT), the authors present a nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory (TBT) for the nonlinear free vibration analysis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) embedded in an elastic medium. In this formulation, four different edge conditions of the embedded MWCNT are considered, two different models with regard to the van der Waals interaction between each pair of walls constituting the MWCNT are considered, and the interaction between the MWCNT and its surrounding medium is simulated using the Pasternak-type foundation. The motion equations of an individual wall and the associated boundary conditions are derived using Hamilton's principle, in which the von $K{\acute{a}}rm{\acute{a}}n$ geometrical nonlinearity is considered. Eringen's nonlocal elasticity theory is used to account for the effects of the small length scale. Variations of the lowest frequency parameters with the maximum modal deflection of the embedded MWCNT are obtained using the differential quadrature method in conjunction with a direct iterative approach.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.161-182
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• 2016

A state space differential reproducing kernel (DRK) method is developed for the three-dimensional (3D) analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) axisymmetric circular plates with simply-supported and clamped edges. The strong formulation of this 3D elasticity axisymmetric problem is derived on the basis of the Reissner mixed variational theorem (RMVT), which consists of the Euler-Lagrange equations of this problem and its associated boundary conditions. The primary field variables are naturally independent of the circumferential coordinate, then interpolated in the radial coordinate using the early proposed DRK interpolation functions, and finally the state space equations of this problem are obtained, which represent a system of ordinary differential equations in the thickness coordinate. The state space DRK solutions can then be obtained by means of the transfer matrix method. The accuracy and convergence of this method are examined by comparing their solutions with the accurate ones available in the literature.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.781-806
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• 2015

A unified formulation of finite layer methods (FLMs), based on the Reissner mixed variational theorem (RMVT), is developed for the three-dimensional (3D) coupled electro-elastic analysis of simply-supported, functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) plates with open- and closed-circuit surface conditions and under electro-mechanical loads. In this formulation, the material properties of the plate are assumed to obey an exponent-law varying exponentially through the thickness coordinate, and the plate is divided into a number of finite rectangular layers, in which the trigonometric functions and Lagrange polynomials are used to interpolate the in- and out-of-plane variations of the primary field variables of each individual layer, respectively, such as the elastic displacement, transverse shear and normal stress, electric potential, and normal electric displacement components. The relevant orders used for expanding these variables in the thickness coordinate can be freely chosen as the linear, quadratic and cubic orders. Four different mechanical/electrical loading conditions applied on the top and bottom surfaces of the plate are considered, and the corresponding coupled electro-elastic analysis of the loaded FGPM plates is undertaken. The accuracy and convergence rate of the RMVT-based FLMs are assessed by comparing their solutions with the exact 3D piezoelectricity ones available in the literature.