REFINED 3-DIMENSIONAL FINITE STRIP MODEL FOR ANALYSIS OF THICK COMPOSITE SANDWICH PLATES

A refined three-dimensional finite strip model for stress analysis of thick hybrid composite sandwich plates is presented in the present art icle. The new model is based on a combination of two different strip e lements: quadratic linear skin strip (QLSS), and modified quadratic cu bic core strip (MQCCS). The applications of the proposed model for san dwich plates containing a local damage under membrane or bending loadi ng are illustrated. Numerical results are compared to independent solu tions and measured data and found to be in excellent agreement. A comp rehensive discussion of the numerical aspects of the method is conduct ed to test the strips' characteristics regarding the spectral accuracy , finite element convergence and accuracy of numerical integrations.