This work is a sequel of a previous author’s article: “Theories and Finite Elements for Multilayered. Anisotropic, Composite Plates and Shell”, Archive of Computational Methods in Engineering Vol 9, no 2, 2002; in which a literature overview of available modelings for layered flat and curved structures was given. The two following topics, which were not addressed in the previous work, are detailed in this review: 1. derivation of governing equations and finite element matrices for some of the most relevant plate/shell theories; 2. to present an extensive numerical evaluations of available results, along with assessment and benchmarking. The article content has been divided into four parts. An introduction to this review content is given in Part I. A unified description of several modelings based on displacements and transverse stress assumptions ins given in Part II. The order of the expansion in the thickness directions has been taken as a free parameter. Two-dimensional modelings which include Zig-Zag effects, Interlaminar Continuity as well as Layer-Wise (LW), and Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) description have been addressed. Part III quotes governing equations and FE matrices which have been written in a unified manner by making an extensive use of arrays notations. Governing differential equations of double curved shells and finite element matrices of multilayered plates are considered. Principle of Virtual Displacement (PVD) and Reissner’s Mixed Variational Theorem (RMVT), have been employed as statements to drive variationally consistent conditions, e.g.C
 0
 -Requirements, on the assumed displacements and stransverse stress fields. The number of the nodes in the element has been taken as a free parameter. As a results both differential governing equations and finite element matrices have been written in terms of a few 3×3 fundamental nuclei which have 9 only terms each. A vast and detailed numerical investigation has been given in Part IV. Performances of available theories and finite elements have been compared by building about 40 tables and 16 figures. More than fifty available theories and finite elements have been compared to those developed in the framework of the unified notation discussed in Parts II and III. Closed form solutions and and finite element results related to bending and vibration of plates and shells have been addressed. Zig-zag effects and interlaminar continuity have been evaluated for a number of problems. Different possibilities to get transverse normal stresses have been compared. LW results have been systematically compared to ESL ones. Detailed evaluations of transverse normal stress effects are given. Exhaustive assessment has been conducted in the Tables 28–39 which compare more than 40 models to evaluate local and global response of layered structures. A final Meyer-Piening problem is used to asses two-dimensional modelings vs local effects description.

Theories and Finite Elements for Multilayered Plates and Shells:A Unified compact formulation with numerical assessment and benchmarking

This work is an overview of available theories and finite elements that have been developed for multilayered, anisotropic, composite plate and shell structures. Although a comprehensive description of several techniques and approaches is given, most of this paper has been devoted to the so called axiomatic theories and related finite element implementations. Most of the theories and finite elements that have been proposed over the last thirty years are in fact based on these types of approaches. The paper has been divided into three parts. Part I, has been devoted to the description of possible approaches to plate and shell structures: 3D approaches, continuum based methods, axiomatic and asymptotic two-dimensional theories, classical and mixed formulations, equivalent single layer and layer wise variable descriptions are considered (the number of the unknown variables is considered to be independent of the number of the constitutive layers in the equivalent single layer case). Complicating effects that have been introduced by anisotropic behavior and layered constructions, such as high transverse deformability, zig-zag effects and interlaminar continuity, have been discussed and summarized by the acronimC
 -Requirements. Two-dimensional theories have been dealt with in Part II. Contributions based on axiomatic, asymtotic and continuum based approaches have been overviewed. Classical theories and their refinements are first considered. Both case of equivalent single-layer and layer-wise variables descriptions are discussed. The so-called zig-zag theories are then discussed. A complete and detailed overview has been conducted for this type of theory which relies on an approach that is entirely originated and devoted to layered constructions. Formulas and contributions related to the three possible zig-zag approaches, i.e. Lekhnitskii-Ren, Ambartsumian-Whitney-Rath-Das, Reissner-Murakami-Carrera ones have been presented and overviewed, taking into account the findings of a recent historical note provided by the author. Finite Element FE implementations are examined in Part III. The possible developments of finite elements for layered plates and shells are first outlined. FEs based on the theories considered in Part II are discussed along with those approaches which consist of a specific application of finite element techniques, such as hybrid methods and so-called global/local techniques. The extension of finite elements that were originally developed for isotropic one layered structures to multilayerd plates and shells are first discussed. Works based on classical and refined theories as well as on equivalent single layer and layer-wise descriptions have been overviewed. Development of available zig-zag finite elements has been considered for the three cases of zig-zag theories. Finite elements based on other approches are also discussed. Among these, FEs based on asymtotic theories, degenerate continuum approaches, stress resultant methods, asymtotic methods, hierarchy-p,_-s global/local techniques as well as mixed and hybrid formulations have been overviewed.

Theories and Finite Elements for Multilayered, Anisotropic, Composite Plates and Shells

A review of the recent developments in the analysis of laminated beams and plates with an emphasis on shear effects and buckling is presented. A discussion of various shear-deformation theories for plates and beams is given. The available theories are derived assuming a variation of either the in-plane displacement components or the stress components or both in the thickness coordinate. A review of the recently developed finite elements to analyze thin and thick laminated beams and plates is given next. These elements have been derived using the displacement methods, or the mixed methods or the hybrid methods. Recent studies on the buckling and postbuckling behavior of perfect and geometrically imperfect plates are described next. These behaviors have been studied using analytical, numerical, and experimental techniques. Finally, a review of the various studies on the delamination buckling and growth in beams and plates is given. Once again, the studies have been conducted using analytical, numerical, and experimental techniques. The energy release rates have been determined using closed-form solutions or using numerical differentiation. Mention also is made of studies on multiple delaminations and on dynamic response of composite laminates under impact loads.

Recent advances in analysis of laminated beams and plates. Part I - Sheareffects and buckling.

This review article is devoted to the use of the Reissner Mixed Variational Theorem ~RMVT! forward two-dimensional modeling of flat and curved, multilayer structures. A thorough review of the literature involving the use in the modeling of multilayered plates and shells using RMVT is also presented. In the first part, the paper overviews relevant key points that should be taken into account for an accurate description of strain and stress fields in multilayered plate and shell analysis. It is then shown that RMVT has been originated in view of the fulfillment of such key points, herein referred to as C-Requirements ~zig-zag form of the displacement fields in the thickness direction and continuity of transverse normal and shear stresses at each layer interface!. Classical variational statements are used to introduce Reissner’s Theorem. In the second part, the paper presents various ways in which RMVT can be used to develop plate and shell theories in a systematic manner. The so called layer-wise and equivalent single layer variable description are considered. Both strong and weak ~finite element! forms of governing equations have been derived. A Weak Form of Hooke’s Law ~WFHL!, is also discussed as an idea to eliminate transverse stress variables leading to standard classical models with only displacement unknowns. Two appendices display details of governing equations related to multilayered doubly curved shells and to finite element matrices of multilayered plates. A third part reviews the works that have appeared in literature which make use of RMVT. Mainly papers on multilayered plate and shell modelings have been addressed. The final part of the paper is devoted to giving an overview with selected results of numerical performance that can be acquired by RMVT applications; extensive comparison to elasticity solutions and to other significant analyses, based on classical and refined approaches, are given. It is concluded that Reissner’s Mixed Theorem should be considered as a natural tool for multilayered structure analyses; it plays a similar role to that of the Principle of Virtual Displacement in the analysis of isotropic single-layer structures. This review article includes 119 references. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1385512#

Developments, ideas, and evaluations based upon Reissner’s Mixed Variational Theorem in the modeling of multilayered plates and shells

In this paper, a new quasi-three-dimensional (3D) hyperbolic shear deformation theory for the bending and free vibration analysis of functionally graded plates is developed. By dividing the transverse displacement into bending, shear, and thickness stretching parts, the number of unknowns and governing equations of the present theory is reduced, and hence makes it simple to use. The present plate theory approach accounts for both transverse shear and normal deformations and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factor. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved in displacement field is only five, as against six or more in the case of other shear and normal deformation theories. A comparison with the corresponding results is made to check the accuracy and efficiency of the present theory.

N.D. Phan

Papers

Stability and vibration of isotropic, orthotropic and laminated plates according to a higher-order shear deformation theory