Vibration of composites and sandwich laminates subjected to in-plane partial edge loading

The free vibration of composites and sandwich laminates subjected to in-plane partial edge loading is studied. An efficient finite element model based on a refined higher order shear deformation plate theory is developed for the present purpose. In this theory, the transverse shear stresses are continuous at the layer interfaces with stress free conditions at plate top and bottom surfaces. It is interesting to note that the plate model having all these refined features requires unknowns at the reference plane only. However, this theory requires C1 continuity of transverse displacement at the element edges, which is difficult to satisfy arbitrarily in any existing finite element. To deal with this, a new triangular element recently developed by the authors is used in the present paper.