A two-dimensional theory for the analysis of laminated plates (Q1331781)

A new displacement-based two-dimensional theory for the analysis of multilayered plates is presented. The theory is based on the only kinematic constraint of transverse inextensibility, whereas no restrictions are imposed on the representation of the in-plane displacement components. A governing system of integral-differential equations is obtained which can be given a closed-form solution for a number of problems where no boundary layer is present. It is also shown that most of the two-dimensional plate models can be directly derived from the presented theory. The possibility of developing asymptotic solutions in the boundary layers is discussed with reference to the problem of a plate in cylindrical bending.