An Assumed Strain Finite Element for Composite Plates Analysis

This paper deals with the formulation of a novel four-node quadrilateral finite element based on the first-order shear deformation theory and using the strain-based approach for static and free vibration responses of composite plates. The developed element has five degrees of freedom per node and its displacement functions contain higher-order terms that satisfy the rigid body modes and are based on assumed strains satisfying compatibility equations. The efficiency of the present element is demonstrated by applying it to sandwich and symmetric/antisymmetric laminated composite plates with various shapes, boundary conditions, side-to-thickness ratios, stacking sequences, fiber orientation angles, and different types of loads. The obtained results are compared with published analytical and numerical solutions that have proved excellent accuracy and efficiency in predicting bending and free vibration of laminated composite plates and have shown that this element is free of shear locking.