• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2007

In the present study, a spline finite strip with higher-order shear deformation is formulated for the stability and free vibration analysis of composite plates. The analysis is conducted based on Reddy's third-order shear deformation theory, Touratier's "Sine" model, Afaq's exponential model and Cho's higher-order zigzag laminate theory. Consequently, the shear correction coefficients are not required in the analysis, and an improved accuracy for thick laminates is achieved. The numerical results, based on different shear deformation theories, are presented in comparison with the three-dimensional elasticity solutions. The effects of length-to-thickness ratio, fibre orientation, and boundary conditions on the critical buckling loads and natural frequencies are investigated through numerical examples.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.531-546
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• 2009

In the present analysis, the spline finite strip with higher-order shear deformation is formulated for the static analysis of piezoelectric composite plates. The proposed method incorporates Reddy's third-order shear deformation theory, Touratier's "Sine" model, Afaq's exponential model, Cho's higher-order zigzag laminate theory, as well as the classic plate theory and the first-order plate theory. Thus, the analysis can be conducted based on any of the above-mentioned theories. The selection of a specific method is done by simply changing a few terms in a 2 by 2 square matrix and the results, obtained according to different plate theories, can be compared to each other. Numerical examples are presented for piezoelectric composite plates subjected to mechanical loading. The results based on different shear deformation theories are compared with the three-dimensional solutions. The behaviours of piezoelectric composite plates with different length-to-thickness ratios, fibre orientations, and boundary conditions are also investigated in these examples.