ABSTRACT

This chapter considers a higher order theory which includes the effects of transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia. Solutions to the theory are also presented for the purpose of assessing the effect of transverse shear deformation on the behavior of laminated plates. The chapter presents an extension of theories developed by E. Reissner and R. D. Mindlin for homogeneous, isotropic plates to laminates consisting of an arbitrary number of bonded anisotropic layers. Such an extension was originally due to P. C. Yang, C. H. Horris, and Y. Stavsky with some later modification by Whitney and pagano. The chapter describes the governing equations applicable to the analysis of sandwich plates. It also considers the effect of shear deformation on the bending of laminated beams. The chapter discusses bending under lateral loads, buckling under inplane loads, and flexural vibration frequencies.