Integrated thermal and mechanical analysis of composite plates and shells

Thermal and mechanical analyses of structures are usually performed with no n-consistent tools leading to an excessive effort in data adaptation. The a pplication of 2D finite elements for both tasks relaxes this deficiency. Wi th thermal lamination theories assuming a linear or quadratic temperature d istribution in the thickness direction, suitable elements are developed and experimentally verified for both steady-state and transient problems. On t he basis of a 2D global analysis accurate transverse stresses can be determ ined from local equilibrium conditions. For laminated plates and cylindrica l shells a procedure is presented which allows us to reduce the order of sh ape functions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.