Non-linear stress analysis of composite layered plates and shells using a mesh reduction method

This paper represents an attempt for reducing the dimensionality of the finite element method, based on applying a new concept to the finite strip method. Mindlin's plate-bending theory has been employed for the derivation of an efficient element for buckling and stress analysis of folded and stiffened plates made of composite layered materials. The plate midplane is to be discretized in one direction in terms of this new element, leading to a simple mesh reduced by one dimension as compared with standard finite element meshes. The interpolation in the other direction is achieved by employing independently a smooth polynomial over the plate width. An efficient modular programming package based on the new element has been designed, and a number of case studies have been employed for its validation. The package has proved to be an efficient tool for numerical modelling of trapezoidal and stiffened plates, and cylindrical shells, made of isotropic or composite layered materials.