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A new zig-zag theory and C0 plate bending element for composite and sandwich plates

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Abstract

A higher-order zig-zag theory for laminated composite and sandwich structures is proposed. The proposed theory satisfies the interlaminar continuity conditions and free surface conditions of transverse shear stresses. Moreover, the number of unknown variables involved in present model is independent of the number of layers. Compared to the zig-zag theory available in literature, the merit of present theory is that the first derivatives of transverse displacement have been taken out from the in-plane displacement fields, so that the C0 interpolation functions is only required during its finite element implementation. To obtain accurately transverse shear stresses by integrating three-dimensional equilibrium equations within one element, a six-node triangular element is employed to model the present zig-zag theory. Numerical results show that the present zig-zag theory can predict more accurate in-plane displacements and stresses in comparison with other zig-zag theories. Moreover, it is convenient to obtain transverse shear stresses by integration of equilibrium equations, as the C0 shape functions is only used when implemented in a finite element.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, China

    Ren Xiaohui & Chen Wanji

  2. Institute for Structural Analysis of Aerocraft, Shenyang Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Daoyi South Street 37, 110136, Shenyang, LN, China

    Ren Xiaohui, Chen Wanji & Wu Zhen

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  1. Ren Xiaohui
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  2. Chen Wanji
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  3. Wu Zhen
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Correspondence to Chen Wanji.

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Xiaohui, R., Wanji, C. & Zhen, W. A new zig-zag theory and C0 plate bending element for composite and sandwich plates. Arch Appl Mech 81, 185–197 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00419-009-0404-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00419-009-0404-0

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