Symmetric deformation analysis of symmetric laminated plates including transverse shear and normal effects

Symmetric deformation analysis of symmetric laminated plates is presented here. The transverse shear and normal strain and stress effects on symmetric deformation of such laminates are considered. The displacement fields and the transverse shear and normal stress fields are assumed to preserve the displacement and traction continuity conditions at the interface between layers. A set of twelfth-order governing equations and consistent boundary conditions are given from a mixed variational theorem. The symmetric deformation of rectangular cross-ply plates and a strip with simple supports subjected to symmetric sinusoidal loading on both surfaces is evaluated. The numerical results are compared with elasticity solutions. The present theory is found to agree closely with three-dimensional elasticity solutions. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.