• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.409-426
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• 2019

The aim of the present work is to study the nonlinear behavior of the laminated composite plates under transverse sinusoidal loading using a new inverse trigonometric shear deformation theory, where geometric nonlinearity in the Von-Karman sense is taken into account. In the present theory, in-plane displacements use an inverse trigonometric shape function to account the effect of transverse shear deformation. The theory satisfies the traction free boundary conditions and violates the need of shear correction factor. The governing equations of equilibrium and boundary conditions associated with present theory are obtained by using the principle of minimum potential energy. These governing equations are solved by eight nodded serendipity element having five degree of freedom per node. A square laminated composite plate is considered for the geometrically linear and nonlinear formulation. The numerical results are obtained for central deflections, in-plane stresses and transverse shear stresses. Finite element Codes are developed using MATLAB. The present results are compared with previously published results. It is concluded that the geometrically linear and nonlinear response of laminated composite plates predicted by using the present inverse trigonometric shape function is in excellent agreement with previously published results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.677-691
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• 2013

A semi-analytical finite strip method is developed for analyzing the post-buckling behavior of rectangular composite laminated plates of arbitrary lay-up subjected to progressive end-shortening in their plane and to normal pressure loading. In this method, all the displacements are postulated by the appropriate harmonic shape functions in the longitudinal direction and polynomial interpolation functions in the transverse direction. Thin or thick plates are assumed and correspondingly the Classical Plate Theory (CPT) or Higher Order Plate Theory (HOPT) is applied. The in-plane transverse deflection is allowed at the loaded ends of the plate, whilst the same deflection at the unloaded edges is either allowed to occur or completely restrained. Geometric non-linearity is introduced in the strain-displacement equations in the manner of the von-Karman assumptions. The formulations of the finite strip methods are based on the concept of the principle of the minimum potential energy. The Newton-Raphson method is used to solve the non-linear equilibrium equations. A number of applications involving isotropic plates, symmetric and unsymmetric cross-ply laminates are described to investigate the through-thickness shearing effects as well as the effect of pressure loading, end-shortening and boundary conditions. The study of the results has revealed that the response of the composite laminated plates is particularly influenced by the application of the Higher Order Plate Theory (HOPT) and normal pressure loading. In the relatively thick plates, the HOPT results have more accuracy than CPT.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

This study is aimed to examine the influence of the rotational stiffness of U-shaped ribs on the local buckling behaviors of laminated composite plates. Applying the orthotropic plates with eight layers of the layup $[(0^{\circ})4]s$ and $[(0^{\circ}/90^{\circ})2]s$, 3-dimensional finite element models for the U-rib stiffened plates were setup by using ABAQUS and then a series of eigenvalue analyses were conducted. There is a need to develope a simple design equation to establish the rotational stiffness effect, which could be easily quantified by comparing the theoretical critical stress equation for laminated composite plates with elastic restraints based on the Classical laminated plate theory. Through the parametric numerical studies, it is confirmed that there should clearly exist an increasing effect of local plate buckling strength due to the rotational stiffness by closed-section ribs. An applicable coefficient for practical design should be verified and proposed for future study. This study will contribute to the future study for establishing an increasing coefficient for the design strength and optimum design of U-rib stiffened plates.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1337-1343
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• 2004

Shape optimization was performed to obtain a precise shape of cutouts including the internal shape of cutouts in a laminated composite plate by three dimensional modeling using solid element. Volume control of the growth-strain method was implemented and the distributed parameter chosen as Tsai-Hill fracture index for shape optimization. It makes Tsai-Hill failure index at each element uniform in laminated composites under the predetermined volume a designer requires. Shapes optimized by Tsai-Hill failure index were compared with those of the initial shapes for the various load conditions and cutouts. The following conclusions were obtained in this study; (1) It was found that growth-strain method was applied efficiently to shape optimization of three dimensional cutouts in a laminate composite, (2) The optimal shapes of the various load conditions and cutouts were obtained, (3) The maximum Tsai-Hill failure indices of the optimal shapes were remarkably reduced comparing with those of the initial shapes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.105-116
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• 2017

This paper presents the dynamic stability study of laminated composite plates with different force combinations and aspect ratios. Optimum non-diverging stacking is obtained for certain loading combination and aspect ratio. In addition, the stability force is maximized for a definite operating frequency. A dynamic version of the principle of virtual work for laminated composites is used to obtain force-frequency relation. Since dynamic stiffness governs the divergence or flutter, an efficient optimization method is necessary for the response functional and the relevant constraints. In this way, a model based on the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is proposed to search for the proper stacking. The ACO algorithm is used since it treats with large number of dynamic stability parameters. Governing equations are formulated using classic laminate theory (CLT) and von-Karman plate technique. Load-frequency relations are explicitly obtained for fundamental and secondary flutter modes of simply supported composite plate with arbitrary aspect ratio, stacking and boundary load, which are used in optimization process. Obtained results are compared with the finite element method results for validity and accuracy convince. Results revealed that the optimum stacking with stable dynamic response and maximum critical load is in angle-ply mode with almost near-unidirectional fiber orientations for fundamental flutter mode. In addition, short plates behave better than long plates in combined axial-shear load case regarding stable oscillation. The interaction of uniaxial and shear forces intensifies the instability in long plates than short ones which needs low-angle layup orientations to provide required dynamic stiffness. However, a combination of angle-ply and cross-ply stacking with a near-square aspect ratio is appropriate for the composite plate regarding secondary flutter mode.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.377-386
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• 1999

The stress distribution in a symmetrically laminated composite plate subjected to in-plane compression are evaluated using finite element analysis. Six different finite element models are created for the study of stresses in the plate after buckling. Two finite element modelling approaches are adopted to obtain the stress distribution. The first approach starts with a full model of shell elements from which sub-models of solid elements are spin-off The second approach adopts a full model of solid elements at the beginning from which sub-models of solid elements are created. All sub-models have either 1-element thickness or 14-element thickness. Both techniques show high interlaminar direct and shear stresses at the free edges. The study also provides vital information of the distribution of all components of stresses along the unloaded edges in length direction and also in the thickness direction of the plate.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.43-59
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• 2020

In this study, free vibration analysis of laminated composite parabolic thick plate frames by using finite element method is introduced. Governing equations of an eigenvalue problem are obtained from First Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT). Finite element method is employed to obtain natural frequency values from the governing differential equations. The frames consist of two flat square plates and one singly curved plate. Parameters like radii of curvature, aspect ratio, ply orientation and boundary conditions are investigated to understand their effect on dynamic behavior of such a structure. In addition, multi-bay structures of such geometry with different stacking order are also taken into account. The composite frame structures are also modeled and simulated via ANSYS to verify the accuracy of the present study.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.387-403
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• 2014

This paper presents a high accuracy Finite Element approach for delamination modelling in laminated composite structures. This approach uses multi-layered shell element and cohesive zone modelling to handle the mechanical properties and damages characteristics of a laminated composite plate under low velocity impact. Both intralaminar and interlaminar failure modes, which are usually observed in laminated composite materials under impact loading, were addressed. The detail of modelling, energy absorption mechanisms, and comparison of simulation results with experimental test data were discussed in detail. The presented approach was applied for various models and simulation time was found remarkably inexpensive. In addition, the results were found to be in good agreement with the corresponding results of experimental data. Considering simulation time and results accuracy, this approach addresses an efficient technique for delamination modelling, and it could be followed by other researchers for damage analysis of laminated composite material structures subjected to dynamic impact loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.629-639
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• 2018

In this paper, the vibroacoustic responses of baffled laminated composite sandwich flat panel structure under the influence of harmonic excitation are studied numerically using a novel higher-order coupled finite-boundary element model. A numerical scheme for the vibrating plate has been developed in the frame work of the higher-order mid-plane kinematics and the eigen frequencies are obtained by employing suitable finite element steps. The acoustic responses are then computed by solving the Helmholtz wave equation using boundary element method coupled with the structural finite elements. The proposed scheme has been implemented via an own MATLAB base code to compute the desired responses. The validity of the present model is established from the conformance of the current natural frequencies and the radiated sound power with the available benchmark solutions. The model is further utilized to scrutinize the influence of core-to-face thickness ratio, modular ratio, lamination scheme and the support condition on the sound radiation characteristics of the vibrating sandwich flats panel. It can be concluded that the present scheme is not only accurate but also efficient and simple in providing solutions of the coupled vibroacoustic response of laminated composite sandwich plates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.2
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• pp.247-269
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• 2020

A finite strip formulation was developed for buckling and free vibration analysis of laminated composite plates based on different shear deformation plate theories. The different shear deformation theories such as Zigzag higher order, Refined Plate Theory (RPT) and other higher order plate theories by variation of transverse shear strains through plate thickness in the parabolic form, sine and exponential were adopted here. The two loaded opposite edges of the plate were assumed to be simply supported and remaining edges were assumed to have arbitrary boundary conditions. The polynomial shape functions are applied to assess the in-plane and out-of-plane deflection and rotation of the normal cross-section of plates in the transverse direction. The finite strip procedure based on the virtual work principle was applied to derive the stiffness, geometric and mass matrices. Numerical results were obtained based on various shear deformation plate theories to verify the proposed formulation. The effects of length to thickness ratios, modulus ratios, boundary conditions, the number of layers and fiber orientation of cross-ply and angle-ply laminates were determined. The additional results on the same effects in the interaction of biaxial in-plane loadings on the critical buckling load were determined as well.