Accurate free vibration analysis of completely free symmetric cross-ply rectangular laminated plates

The method of superposition is exploited to obtain accurate analytical type solutions for resonant frequencies and mode shapes of completely free symmetric cross-ply laminated rectangular plates. Verification tests are performed by comparing computed eigenvalues with known eigenvalues for the special case of thin orthotropic plates. Results of an analytical study of the free vibration behaviour of a typical symmetric cross-ply laminated completely free plate are tabulated. These results provide valuable checkpoints against which future researchers can compare their findings. This appears to be the first analytical type free vibration solution made available for the completely free laminated plate of this type.