Linear and non-linear 3-D analysis of hybrid composite laminates

In this paper, linear and non-linear 3-D solutions are presented for hybrid composite laminates subjected to uniform transverse loadings. The perturbation method and a variational principle are used to obtain solutions which satisfy the linear and non-linear 3-D differential equations of equilibrium, the strain/displacement relations, the stress/strain relations, the boundary conditions and the continuity conditions at layer interfaces. The distributions of displacements and stresses in the plates are shown. The effect of different non-linearities on laminated plates is considered, and the importance of transverse shear stresses and transverse normal stress is analysed.