A generalized multilength scale nonlinear composite plate theory with delamination (Q1302421)

This paper presents a local-global approach to the macromechanical analysis of laminated composite plates with delamination. The nonlinear analysis is based on a variational averaging procedure together with a two-length scale kinematic hypothesis for each layer of plates. The displacement field of a layer is introduced as a superposition of global and local displacement expansions in the thickness coordinate. By use of Hamilton's principle and the kinematic hypothesis, the author formulates two-dimensional equations of motion and natural boundary conditions. The delamination is considered through the use of interfacial constitutive relations, which are limited to predicting the initiation and preliminary growth of delaminations. The author also takes into account the Kármán-type geometric nonlinearity and the continuity conditions between sublaminates. As an example, a linear static version of the resulting equations is used in investigating the cylindrical bending of some perfectly bonded and delaminated cross-ply plates. The results of cylindrical bending are validated by comparison with exact solutions. The above kinematic hypothesis can be used in predicting the response of one- and two-dimensional laminated composite elements.