| Abstract: | P-version finite elements based on higher-order theory are developed for the two-dimensional modelling of general bending and cylindrical bending of thin-to-thick laminated composite plates. In the case of general laminated plate elements, three displacement fields are used. In the special case of cylindrically bent laminated plate elements, two displacement fields are needed. In each case the displacement is expressed as the product of two functions—one in terms of out-of-plane co-ordinates alone and the other in terms of in-plane co-ordinates. The shape functions used to build the displacement fields are based on integral of Legendre' polynomials. The quality and performance of the elements are evaluated in terms of convergence characteristics of displacements and stresses. The predicted response quantities are compared with those available in the published literature based on analytical as well as conventional finite element models. |
