Assumed strain quadrilateral C-0 laminated plate element based on third-order shear deformation theory

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.