Bending of sandwich plates with anti-symmetric angle-ply face sheets – Analytical evaluation of higher order refined computational models

The aim of the present study is to assess the accuracy of the few computational models based on various shear deformation theories in predicting the bending behaviour of sandwich plates with anti-symmetric angle-ply face sheets under static loading. Five two-dimensional models available in the literature are used for the present evaluation. The performance of the various models is evaluated on a simply supported laminated plate under sinusoidal loading. The equations of equilibrium are derived using the principle of minimum potential energy (PMPE). Analytical solution method using double Fourier series approach is used in conjunction with the admissible boundary conditions. The accuracy of each model is established by comparing the results of composite plates with the exact solutions already available in the literature. After establishing the correctness of the theoretical formulations and the solution method, benchmark results for transverse displacement, in-plane stresses, moment and shear stress resultants are presented for the multilayer sandwich plates.