A new C0 layerwise wavelet finite element formulation for the static and free vibration analysis of composite plates

Abstract

In this paper, a new C0 layerwise wavelet finite element is proposed for the static and free vibration analysis of composite plates. The refined zigzag theory is adopted to introduce the zigzag effects in multilayered plate structures by using piecewise linear C0 continuous functions. Then the layerwise wavelet-based BSWI element is derived based on the higher-order plate theory by means of two-dimensional BSWI scaling functions. The proposed model satisfies the conditions of transverse shear stress continuity at the layer interfaces as well as yields to the stress-free boundary conditions on the surface of plate without a shear correction factor. What’s more, the layerwise wavelet-based BSWI element also possesses the advantages of high convergence, high accuracy and reliability with fewer degrees of freedom on account of the excellent approximation property of BSWI. The accuracy and effectiveness of proposed layerwise wavelet-based BSWI element is assessed for static and free vibration analysis of laminated composite and sandwich plates with available 3D elasticity solutions, finite element solutions and other referential solutions in published literatures.