Search results for " Zig-Zag."

A New Thermal Theory for Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Composites

2009

The use of laminated and sandwich construction to achieve multi-functional objectives within a single structure continues to increase. It is especially desirable to use laminated construction in structures exposed to thermal loading, where heat resistant coating materials may be bonded to traditional structural materials. Design of such structures requires an accurate analysis of stresses induced by thermal as well as mechanical loads. A novel laminated plate theory and 3D finite element model based on first-order zig-zag sublaminate approximations are presented for thermal stress analysis of composite laminates and sandwich plates. The finite element is developed with the topology of an ei…