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Predicting Structural Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Laminated Composite Plates by Different Finite Elements: A Study

R Islam1, P Topdar2, and A K Datta2
1. Department of Civil Engg., Adamas Institute of Technology, Barasat
2. Department of Civil Engg., NIT Durgapur

Abstract—Successful prediction of structural behavior of Fibre Reinforced Laminated (FRL) composite plates using any Finite Element (FE) software depends largely on the choice of elements. However, verifying the suitability of a chosen element for a specific analysis and gauging the range of applicability of the element is difficult since the available studies on FE analyses for such FRL plates in literature rarely use commercial FE software. Consequently structural behavior of FRL composite plates using popular and commercially available FE software is studied. Two different elements are chosen: a three dimensional solid element and a shell element. Rigorous study is carried out by solving numerical problems involving plates with various thickness ratios, lamination lay-ups, boundary conditions, etc. To gauge the accuracy and range of applicability of such elements, the results of present analysis are compared with elasticity solutions, wherever possible. New results are also presented. 

Index Terms—fibre reinforced laminated (FRL) composite plates, finite element (FE) software, solid element, shell element

Cite: R Islam, P Topdar, and A K Datta, "Predicting Structural Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Laminated Composite Plates by Different Finite Elements: A Study," International Journal of Structural and Civil Engineering Research, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 30-41, November 2013.