A study of the edge-zone equation of Mindlin-Reissner plate theory in bending of laminated rectangular plates

The bending equations of the Mindlin-Reissner theory of plates laminated of transversely isotropic layers are reformulated in terms of the boundary-la yer and transverse displacement functions. Analytical expressions are obtai ned for the primary response quantities of rectangular laminates with vario us boundary conditions. It is found that various edge conditions have bound ary-layer effects on the primary and secondary response quantities that can be characterized as nonexistent, weak, or strong.