G. Shi et al., Assumed strain quadrilateral C-0 laminated plate element based on third-order shear deformation theory, STRUC ENG M, 8(6), 1999, pp. 623-637
This paper presents a four-noded quadrilateral CO strain plate element for
the analysis of thick laminated composite plates. The element formulation i
s based on: 1) the third-order shear deformation theory; 2) assumed strain
element formulation; and 3) interrelated edge displacements and rotations a
long element boundaries. Unlike the existing displacement-type composite pl
ate elements based on the third-order theory, which rely on the C-1-continu
ity formulation, the present plate element is of C-0-continuity, and its el
ement stiffness matrix is evaluated explicitly. Because of the third-order
expansion of the in-plane displacements through the thickness, the resultin
g theory and hence elements do not need shear correction factors. The expli
cit element stiffness matrix makes the present element more computationally
efficient than the composite plate elements using numerical integration fo
r the analysis of thick layered composite plates.