• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.623-637
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• 1999

This paper presents a four-noded quadrilateral $C^0$ strain plate element for the analysis of thick laminated composite plates. The element formulation is based on: 1) the third-order shear deformation theory; 2) assumed strain element formulation; and 3) interrelated edge displacements and rotations along element boundaries. Unlike the existing displacement-type composite plate elements based on the third-order theory, which rely on the $C^1$-continuity formulation, the present plate element is of $C^0$-continuity, and its element stiffness matrix is evaluated explicitly. Because of the third-order expansion of the in-plane displacements through the thickness, the resulting theory and hence elements do not need shear correction factors. The explicit element stiffness matrix makes the present element more computationally efficient than the composite plate elements using numerical integration for the analysis of thick layered composite plates.