Analysis of anisotropic composite/sandwich shells using a new displacement model with the super-parametric element

Abstract

A detailed procedure for the analysis of isotropic, orthotropic and anisotropic fibre-reinforced laminated composite/ sandwich shell structures is presented. The theory is based on a new higher-order displacement model and the three-dimensional Hooke's laws, giving rise to a more realistic variation of the transverse shearing strains and normal strain through the shell thickness. The displacement field is based on the Taylor's series expansion of the generic displacements, having cubic variation of in-plane displacements and transverse displacement through the laminate thickness. This model leads to a theory, which includes transverse shear deformations and warping of the transverse cross - section, hence it does not require the use of shear correction coefficients. The finite element formulation presented here has a wide range of applicability for laminated shells with arbitrary geometry, loading and boundary conditions.