Finite strip buckling and free vibration analysis of stepped rectangular composite laminated plates

A general spline "nite strip method is presented which allows the spline knots to be located arbitrarily along the plate strip and also facilitates the use of analytical integration in evaluating strip properties. The development takes place in the contexts of "rst-order shear deformation plate theory and of classical plate theory, and encompasses composite laminated material. The prediction of natural frequencies and buckling stresses of stepped rectangular plates is considered using the new approach in which re"nement of knot spacings is used local to a step change. The superstrip concept is used as part of an e$cient solution procedure. A number of applications demonstrate the validity and practicability of the developed method