Thermo-elastic non-linear analysis of multilayered plates and shells

Geometrically nonlinear FEM analysis of multilayered composite plates and shells is performed in order to resolve the stability problem of the structures being under the influence of temperature field. The Riks–Wempner–Ramm algorithm with a specially modified multi-choice unloading condition has been implemented in authors’ numerical code. As the representation of multilayered medium the Equivalent Single Layer approach with the First Order Shear Deformation kinematics is employed. The effectiveness of the proposed model is examined in numerical examples with reference solutions available in the literature. Presented study proves that the proposed approach can be very effective in the analysis of stability of thin-walled thermally loaded panels.