Isogeometric layerwise formulation for bending and free vibration analysis of laminated composite plates

Abstract

This study proposes a new plate formulation based on a generalized layerwise theory in the isogeometric analysis (IGA) framework to investigate the bending and free vibration behavior of a laminated composite plate. All degrees of freedom in the isogeometric formulation are only associated with the displacements (i.e., rotation-free). In IGA, NURBS functions are used both to construct the geometry and to approximate the field variables. Merits of utilizing IGA include: the exact geometrical description, high accuracy and efficiancy, higher-order smoothness. The displacement-based layerwise theory assumes an individual displacement field expansion inside each layer, and the transverse displacement component is regarded to be $$C^{0}$$ -continuous at the layer interfaces, thus yielding a more precise description of the stress states. The $$C^{0}$$ continuity enforcement across the thickness in the present formulation is easily implemented by virtue of the knot insertion technique of IGA. The capability of the present isogeometric layerwise formulation in analyzing the static and dynamic responses is evidenced by conducting some numerical tests available in the open literature and comparing the computed outcomes with the reference data.