• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.191-213
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• 2011

This paper presents an improved 8-node shell element for the analysis of plates and shells. The finite element, based on a refined first-order shear deformation theory, is further improved by the combined use of assumed natural strain method. We analyze the influence of the shell element with the different patterns of sampling points for interpolating different components of strains. Using the assumed natural strain method with proper interpolation functions, the present shell element generates neither membrane nor shear locking behavior even when full integration is used in the formulation. Further, a refined first-order shear deformation theory, which results in parabolic through-thickness distribution of the transverse shear strains from the formulation based on the third-order shear deformation theory, is proposed. This formulation eliminates the need for shear correction factors in the first-order theory. Numerical examples demonstrate that the present element perform better in comparison with other shell elements.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 1995

In the present study, a finite strip method for the vibration and stability analyses of anisotropic laminated composite plates is developed according to the higher-order shear deformation theory. This theory accounts for the parabolic distribution of the transverse shear strains through the thickness of the plate and for zero transverse shear stresses on the plate surfaces. In comparison with the finite strip method based on the first-order shear deformation theory, the present method gives improved results for very thick plates while using approximately the same number of degrees of freedom. It also eliminates the need for shear correction factors in calculating the transverse shear stiffness. A number of numerical examples are presented to show the effect of aspect ratio, length-to-thickness ratio, number of plies, fibre orientation and stacking sequence on the natural frequencies and critical buckling loads of simply supported rectangular cross-ply and arbitrary angle-ply composite laminates.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.309-324
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• 2005

This paper presents an efficient and accurate coupled beam model for piezoelectric bimorphs based on improved first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The model combines the equivalent single layer approach for the mechanical displacements and a layerwise modeling for the electric potential. General electric field function is proposed to reasonably approximate the through-the-thickness distribution of the applied and induced electric potentials. Layerwise defined shear correction factor (k) accounting for nonlinear shear strain distribution is introduced into both the shear stress resultant and the electric displacement integration. Analytical solutions for free vibrations and forced response under electromechanical loads are obtained for the simply supported piezoelectric bimorphs with series or parallel arrangement, and the numerical results for various length-to-thickness ratios are compared with the exact two-dimensional piezoelasticity solution. Excellent predictions with low error estimates of local and global responses as well as the modal frequencies are observed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.477-490
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• 2022

This article investigates the nonlinear behavior of two-directional functionally graded materials (TDFGM) doubly curved panels with porosities for the first time. An improved and effectual approach is established based on the improved first-order shear deformation shell theory (IFSDST) and von Karman's type nonlinearity. The IFSDST considers the effects of shear deformation without the need for a shear correction factor. The composition of TDFGM constitutes four different materials, and the modified power-law function is employed to vary the material properties continuously in both thickness and longitudinal directions. A nonlinear finite element method in conjunction with Hamilton's principle is used to obtain the governing equations. Then, the direct iterative method is incorporated to accomplish the numerical results using the frequency-amplitude, nonlinear central deflection relations. Finally, the influence of volume fraction grading indices, porosity distributions, porosity volume, curvature ratio, thickness ratio, and aspect ratio provides a thorough insight into the linear and nonlinear responses of the porous curved panels. Meanwhile, this study emphasizes the influence of the volume fraction gradation profiles in conjunction with the various material and geometrical parameters on the linear frequency, nonlinear frequency, and deflection of the TDFGM porous shells. The numerical analysis reveals that the frequencies and nonlinear deformations can be significantly regulated by changing the volume fraction gradation profiles in a specified direction with an appropriate combination of materials. Hence, TDFGM panels can overcome the drawbacks of the functionally graded materials with a gradation of properties in a single direction.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.107-114
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• 2004

In this paper, a simple improved 8-node finite element for the finite element analysis of fibrous composite plates is presented by using the direct modification. We drive explicit expressions of shape functions for the 8-node element with bilinear element geometry, which is modified so that it can represent any quadratic fields in Cartesian coordinates. The refined first-order shear deformation theory is proposed, which results in parabolic through-thickness distribution of the transverse shear strains and stresses from the formulation based on the third-order shear deformation theory. It eliminates the need for shear correction factors in the first-order theory. This finite element is further improved by combined use of assumed strain, modified shape function, and refined first-order theory. To show the effectiveness of our simple modification on the 8-node finite elements, numerical studies are carried out the static, buckling and free vibration analysis of fibrous composite plates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2018

In this article, a higher shear deformation theory (HSDT) is improved to consider the influence of thickness stretching in functionally graded (FG) plates. The proposed HSDT has fewer numbers of variables and equations of motion than the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), but considers the transverse shear deformation influences without requiring shear correction coefficients. The kinematic of the present improved HSDT is modified by considering undetermined integral terms in in-plane displacements and a parabolic distribution of the vertical displacement within the thickness, and consequently, the thickness stretching influence is taken into account. Analytical solutions of simply supported FG plates are found, and the computed results are compared with 3D solutions and those generated by other HSDTs. Verification examples demonstrate that the developed theory is not only more accurate than the refined plate theory, but also comparable with the HSDTs which use more number of variables.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.2284-2291
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• 2010

In this paper, we investigate the vibration analysis of plates, using an 8-node shell element that accounts for the transverse shear strains and rotary inertia. The forced vibration analysis of plates subjected to arbitrary loading is investigated. In order to overcome membrane and shear locking phenomena, the assumed natural strain method is used. To improve an 8-node shell element for forced vibration analysis, the new combination of sampling points for assumed natural strain method was applied. The refined first-order shear deformation theory based on Reissner-Mindlin theory which allows the shear deformation without shear correction factor and rotary inertia effect to be considered is adopted for development of 8-node assumed strain shell element. In order to validate the finite element numerical solutions, the reference solutions of plates are presented. Results of the present theory show good agreement with the reference solution. In addition the effect of damping is investigated on the forced vibration analysis of plates.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.5199-5206
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• 2010

In this paper, we investigate the buckling analysis of laminated composite plates, using a improved assumed natural strain shell element. In order to overcome membrane and shear locking phenomena, the assumed natural strain method is used. The eigenvalues of the laminated composite plates are calculated by varying the width-thickness ratio and angle of fiber. To improve an shell element for buckling analysis, the new combination of sampling points for assumed natural strain method was applied and the refined first-order shear deformation theory which allows the shear deformation without shear correction factor. In order to validate the present solutions, the reference solutions are used and discussed. The results of laminated composite plates under the in-plane shear loading may be the benchmark test for the buckling analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1333-1354
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• 2015

A higher order analytical solution for static analysis of a truncated conical composite sandwich panel subjected to different loading conditions was presented in this paper which was based on a new improved higher order sandwich panel theory. Bending analysis of sandwich structures with flexible cores subjected to concentrated load, uniform distributed load on a patch, harmonic and uniform distributed loads on the top and/or bottom face sheet of the sandwich structure was also investigated. For the first time, bending analysis of truncated conical composite sandwich panels with flexible cores was performed. The governing equations were derived by principle of minimum potential energy. The first order shear deformation theory was used for the composite face sheets and for the core while assuming a polynomial description of the displacement fields. Also, the in-plane hoop stresses of the core were considered. In order to assure accuracy of the present formulations, convergence of the results was examined. Effects of types of boundary conditions, types of applied loads, conical angles and fiber angles on bending analysis of truncated conical composite sandwich panels were studied. As, there is no research on higher order bending analysis of conical sandwich panels with flexible cores, the results were validated by ABAQUS FE code. The present approach can be linked with the standard optimization programs and it can be used in the iteration process of the structural optimization. The proposed approach facilitates investigation of the effect of physical and geometrical parameters on the bending response of sandwich composite structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.389-415
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• 2014

This study deals with dynamic model of composite sandwich panels with functionally graded flexible cores under low velocity impacts of multiple large or small masses using a new improved higher order sandwich panel theory (IHSAPT). In-plane stresses were considered for the functionally graded core and face sheets. The formulation was based on the first order shear deformation theory for the composite face sheets and polynomial description of the displacement fields in the core that was based on the second Frostig's model. Fully dynamic effects of the functionally graded core and face-sheets were considered in this study. Impacts were assumed to occur simultaneously and normally over the top and/or bottom of the face-sheets with arbitrary different masses and initial velocities. The contact forces between the panel and impactors were treated as internal forces of the system. Nonlinear contact stiffness was linearized with a newly presented improved analytical method in this paper. The results were validated by comparing the analytical, numerical and experimental results published in the latest literature.