An enriched macro finite element for the static analysis of thick general quadrilateral laminated composite plates

RITA F. RANGO; LIZ G. NALLIM; SERGIO OLLER

MECHANICS OF ADVANCED MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 23 p. 1197 - 1206

1537-6494

This paper presents the formulation of an enriched macro finite element based on the Trigonometric Shear Deformation Theory for the static analysis of symmetrically laminated composite plates. Shear correction factor is not required because this theory accounts for tangential stress-free boundary conditions on the plate boundary surfaces. The macro element is obtained using the Principle of Virtual Work and Gram-Schmidt orthogonal polynomials as enrichment functions. The implementation of the obtained algorithm is simple and efficient, and allows studying general quadrilateral plates with a single macro element. Several examples are presented to show the capability and applicability of the developed formulation.