A generalized, multilength scale framework for thermo-diffusional-mechanically coupled, nonlinear, laminated plate theories with delaminations

A new type of plate theory based on a general, unified, theoretical framework for the response of (von Karman) nonlinear, delaminated plate theories in the presence of thermo-diffusional-mechanical coupling is presented. The theory is based on the unique use of two length scale expansions obtained from a superposition of global and local effects for the displacement, temperature, and solute concentration fields. The orders and forms of these local and global displacement, temperature, and solute fields are arbitrary. The theory incorporates delamination and/or nonlinear elastic or inelastic interfacial behavior for the mechanical, thermal, and concentration effects in a unified fashion through the use of generalized interfacial constitutive (cohesive) relations. The mathematical framework introduces new types of coupling effects between the different length scale effects of all three fields. The resulting unified theoretical framework can be used to consider the general thermo-diffusionally-mechanically coupled response of laminated (or homogeneous) plates in the presence of delaminations, buckling, and/or nonlinear material behavior. The author is unaware of any previous attempts to develop plate theory formulations capable of considering the multitude of effects incorporated into the proposed framework. It is shown that existing displacement-based plate theories for both the mechanical as well as thermo-mechanical behavior of laminated plates can be obtained via suitable specializations of the proposed framework. New types of plate theories can be obtained through various specializations of the proposed general theory. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.