C0 FE model based on HOZT for the analysis of laminated soft core skew sandwich plates: Bending and vibration

Bending and free vibration behaviour of laminated soft core skew sandwich plate with stiff laminate face sheets is investigated using a recently developed C0 finite element (FE) model based on higher order zigzag theory (HOZT) in this paper. The in-plane displacement fields are assumed as a combination of a linear zigzag function with different slopes at each layer and a cubically varying function over the entire thickness. The out of plane displacement is considered to be quadratic within the core and constant in the face sheets. The plate theory ensures a shear stress-free condition at the top and bottom surfaces of the plate. Thus, the plate theory has all of the features required for accurate modelling of laminated skew sandwich plates. As very few element model based on this plate theory (HOZT) exist and they possess certain disadvantages, an attempt has been made to check the applicability of the refined element model. The nodal field variables are chosen in such a manner that there is no need to impose any penalty stiffness in the formulation. Refined C0 finite element model has been utilized to study some interesting problems on static and free vibration analysis of laminated skew sandwich plates.