C0-type global–local higher-order theory including transverse normal thermal strain for laminated composite plates under thermal loading

In order to consider the transverse normal strain for thermal expansion problems of laminated composites, the expansion order of the transverse displacement is generally increased, so additional displacement variables will be involved in the displacement fields. Differing from the previous methods, this paper proposes a global–local higher-order theory for thermal stress analysis of simply supported laminated composite plates by introducing transverse normal thermal deformation in transverse displacement field. Although transverse normal deformation is considered, the additional displacement variables have not increased in the proposed model since thermal loads could be included in the generalized force vector. The proposed model a priori satisfies the continuity conditions of transverse shear stresses at interfaces, and the number of displacement variables involved in the present model does not depend on the number of layers in laminates. The equilibrium equations are obtained by using the principle of virtual displacements, and results are computed by using Navier’s technique. Comparing to the three-dimensional theory, the proposed higher-order theory is acceptable even in the case of thick multilayerd composite plates subjected to thermal loads.