Nonlinear thermoelastic analysis of composite panels under non-uniform temperature distribution

The response of moderately thick laminated panels experiencing large displacements and rotations under non- uniform thermal loading is investigated through a nonlinear ®nite element analysis. The present nonlinear thermoelastic analysis incorporates an anisoparametric, doubly curved, shallow shell element that is free of the `lockingʹ phenomenon. The e€ects of large displacements and rotations, transverse shear deformations, the coupling between stretching and bending due to shallow geometry, and Duhamel±Neumann-type thermoelastic material anisotropy are included in the element formulation. The equations of equilibrium are derived from the virtual work principle, along with the co-rotational form of the total Lagrangian formulation. A non-uniform temperature ®eld across the shell surface is approximated by piecewise-uniform temperature distributions over individual elements. In the thickness direction, the temperature distribution