Geometrically non-linear static analysis of unsymmetric composite plates with curvilinear fibres: p-version layerwise approach

This paper presents a layerwise theory, p-version finite element method for static analysis of unsymmetric laminates with curvilinear fibres. A displacement field that varies linearly along the thickness of each layer is considered and its continuity between the layers is imposed, in this way representing the zig-zag variation of displacements through the thickness. Von Kármán non-linear strain-displacement relationships are applied to take into account the effect of large displacements. Several test problems are examined to verify the accuracy of the proposed model for both symmetric and unsymmetric constant stiffness composite laminates (CSCL), in the linear and non-linear regimes. Deflections and stresses computed with the model proposed here are compared with results available in the literature and with results from Abaqus and Ansys commercial software. Then, static analysis of unsymmetric variable stiffness composite laminated plates (VSCL) are investigated in the geometrically non-linear regime and the effect of unsymmetric stacking sequences and fibre orientations are studied.