A hybrid layerwise and differential quadrature method for in-plane free vibration of laminated thick circular arches

An accurate and efficient solution procedure based on the two-dimensional elasticity theory for free vibration of arbitrary laminated thick circular deep arches with some combinations of classical boundary conditions is introduced. In order to accurately represent the variation of strain across the thickness, the layerwise theory is used to approximate the displacement components in the radial direction. Employing Hamilton's principle, the discretized form of the equations of motion and the related boundary conditions in the radial direction are obtained. The resulting governing equations are then discretized using the differential quadrature method (DQM). After performing the convergence studies, new results for laminated arches with different set of boundary conditions are developed. Additionally, different values of the arch parameters such as opening angle, thickness-to-length and orthotropy ratios are considered. In all cases, comparisons with the results obtained using the finite element software ‘ABAQUS’ and also with those of the first- and higher-order shear deformation theories available in the literature are performed. Close agreements, especially with those of ABAQUS, are achieved.