THERMOELASTIC ANALYSIS OF LAMINATED PLATES INCLUDING TRANSVERSE-SHEARDEFORMATION EFFECTS

In this paper a discrete-layer shear deformation laminated plate theor y is used to analyse steady-state thermal stresses in laminated plates . Both the in-plane displacements and the temperature rise are assumed to be piecewise linear across the thickness. By the assumption that t he transverse shear strains across any two layers are linearly depende nt on each other, the theory contains the same dependent variables as first-order shear deformation theory. The set of governing differentia l equations is of the twelfth order which does not depend on the numbe r of layers. No shear correction factors are required. The thermal ben ding of simply supported, symmetric and antisymmetric cross-ply plates is calculated. Numerical results of the present theory for thermal st resses and deflections are compared with those obtained using the clas sical, first-order and higher-order shear deformation plate theories.