An assessment of five modeling approaches for thermo-mechanical stress analysis of laminated composite panels

Abstract

A study is made of the effects of variation in the lamination and geometric parameters, and boundary conditions of multi-layered composite panels on the accuracy of the detailed response characteristics obtained by ®ve different modeling approaches. The modeling approaches considered include four two-dimensional models, each with ®ve parameters to characterize the deformation in the thickness direction, and a predictorcorrector approach with twelve displacement parameters. The two-dimensional models are ®rst-order shear deformation theory, third-order theory; a theory based on trigonometric variation of the transverse shear stresses through the thickness, and a discrete layer theory. The combination of the following four key elements distinguishes the present study from previous studies reported in the literature: (1) the standard of comparison is taken to be the solutions obtained by using three-dimensional continuum models for each of the individual layers; (2) both mechanical and thermal loadings are considered; (3) boundary conditions other than simply supported edges are considered; and (4) quantities compared include detailed through-the-thickness distributions of transverse shear and transverse normal stresses.Based on the numerical studies conducted, the predictor-corrector approach appears to be the most effective technique for obtaining accurate transverse stresses, and for thermal loading, none of the two-dimensional models is adequate for calculating transverse normal stresses, even when used in conjunction with three-dimensional equilibrium equations.

Re-analysis procedure for laminated plates using FSDT finite element model

“…These approaches include those using (1) finite element analysis based on three-dimensional continuum mechanics, (2) finite element analysis based on quasi-three-dimensional models or higher-order twodimensional models and (3) finite element analysis based on two-dimensional or shell models based on classical laminate plate theory (CLPT) or first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) combined with post-processing procedures. Description of the various computational approaches can be found in several survey papers (Kapania, 1989;Noor and Burton, 1989, 1992Reddy and Robbins, 1994;Robbins and Reddy, 1996;Noor and Malik, 2000).…”

Justification of the Bending-Gradient Theory Through Asymptotic Expansions

“…The reader can refer to the following reviews [9,10,11,12]. Most suggestions leading to ReissnerMindlin-like theories show discontinuous transverse shear stress through the thickness or are limited to some geometric configurations (orthotropy or cylindrical bending for instance).…”

Comparative study of finite element based response evaluation methods for laminated plates

“…These range from those based on three-dimensional continuum mechanics to two-dimensional approaches based on classical laminated plate theory (CLPT) or first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Description of the various computational approaches can be found in several survey papers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

“…These range from those based on three-dimensional continuum mechanics to two-dimensional approaches based on classical laminated plate theory (CLPT) or first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Description of the various computational approaches can be found in several survey papers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].Recently those based on simplified kinematic models combined with post-processing methods have been extensively investigated due to their computational efficiencies. These include those based on the through the thickness integration of the three dimensional stress equilibrium equations [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and those based on obtaining transverse shear stresses directly from transverse shear force, reducing the required order of derivatives of interpolation functions in the stress equilibrium type postprocessing methods for the evaluation of transverse normal stress [15][16][17].…”