A simple displacement-based 3-node triangular element for linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of laminated composite plates (Q2494922)

This paper analyzes a displacement-based 3-node and 18 degrees of freedom flat triangular plate element for linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of thin to moderately thick laminates. It is based on Timoshenko laminated composite beam functions and on the first-order shear deformation theory. The main features of this flat triangular plate element are simplicity, classical degrees of freedom and shear locking-free property without any stabilization scheme. Accuracy and efficiency of this approach are illustrated by numerical examples.