Thermoelastic bending analysis of laminated composite shells using a trigonometric shear and normal deformation theory

Abstract

In the present study, a trigonometric shear and normal deformation theory using trigonometric functions in the displacement field is developed and employed for the static analysis of laminated composite spherical shells subjected to sinusoidal mechanical/thermal loads with simply supported boundary conditions. In the present theory, the effect of both transverse shear and normal strain is considered. The present theory satisfies the zero transverse shear stress conditions at the top and the bottom surfaces of the shell. By using the principle of virtual work, the governing equations and boundary conditions are derived. Navier’s solution procedure is employed to solve the governing differential equations and satisfying the boundary conditions. For validation of the present theory, obtained results are compared with higher-order theories and 3D elasticity solutions wherever possible. Thermal stresses in laminated plates are deduced from the present shell theory and compared with the exact thermoelastic solutions. Thermal stresses presented for the laminated composite spherical shells can serve as a benchmark for future work.