A geometrically nonlinear theory of shear deformable laminated composite plates and its use in the postbuckling analysis
This paper is devoted to the formulation of a higher-order, geometrically nonlinear theory of anisotropic symmetrically-laminated composite plates and to the analysis, in this context, of their postbuckling behavior. Special attention is given to the postbuckling analysis of plates made of transversely isotropic layers for which case, the influence played by the degree of transversal-isotropy of the layers as well as by the goemetrical parameters of the panel is investigated. Finally, the results obtained within the present higher-order theory are compared with their first order transverse shear deformation as well as with their classical (Kirchhoff) counterparts and a number of conclusions concerning their range of applicability and the influence of various parameters are presented.