Use of the finite strip method in predicting the behaviour of composite laminated structures

A description is given of the use of the finite strip method (FSM) in determining the behaviour of composite laminated, prismatic plate and shell structures, with emphasis placed on relatively recent work conducted at The University of Birmingham. Both the semi-analytical and the spline variants of the method are described, and some attention is also paid to “exact” strips. Consideration is given to analyses conducted in the contexts of first-order shear deformation theory and of classical, or thin, theory. The calculation of buckling stresses and natural frequencies of vibration is discussed in detail for single span structures and then, using the spline finite strip approach with variable knot spacings, for multi-span structures and stepped structures. An account is given of the use of the FSM in predicting the post-buckling response of plate structures to progressive end-shortening strain. Brief description is given of the use of the method in predicting the thermal buckling and the transient response to dynamic loading of flat plates. Finally, the calculation of buckling stresses and natural frequencies of sandwich plate structures is considered, based on the adoption of a three-zone plate theory. Numerous examples of the application of the FSM are included in the paper.