Static, free vibration and buckling analysis of anisotropic thick laminated composite plates on distributed and point elastic supports using a 3-D layer-wise FEM

A three-dimensional elasticity based layer-wise finite element method (FEM) is employed to study the static, free vibration and buckling responses of general laminated thick composite plates. Various mixed boundary conditions and free edge conditions are conveniently and accurately implemented. The methodology is employed in modeling the laminated composite plates resting on Winkler and Pasternak types of elastic foundations. Elastic line and point supports are also successfully incorporated for thick plates. Employing this methodology, the effects of shear deformation may easily be studied for moderately thick and thick plates. A computer code, named LW3D, has been developed. Several examples are presented to verify the accuracy of the algorithm and the coding. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.