Thermal Stress Analysis of Laminated Composite Plates Using Third Order Shear Deformation Theory

Abstract

The strength properties of FRP collectively make up one of the primary reasons for which civil engineers select for the construction of structures. The higher order shear deformation theory accounts not only for transverse shear strains of laminated composites but also for a parabolic distribution of the distribution of the transverse strains through the thickness of the plate. Consequently, no shear correction factor is needed. The laminated composite plates have been analysed under thermal load using third order shear deformation theory. The plate is subjected to constant temperature over the surface. The finite element modeling of the plate has been generated using an eight node isoparametric plate bending element with seven degrees of freedom per node. The results in terms of deflection and stresses has been validated by formulating the laminated composite plates using ANSYS 14.0 based on the first order shear deformation theory. The results compare very well. The 2 × 2 gauss integration procedure has been adopted. The stresses have been calculated at the gauss points and the nodal stresses have been computed by extrapolating the stresses at the gauss points. The transverse stresses developed due to the thermal load have been computed and plotted in the present study.