Geometrically Non-Linear Analysis of Doubly Curved Laminated and Sandwich Fibre Reinforced Composite Shells with a Higher Order Theory and C° Finite Elements

An isoparametric C° finite element formulation based on a higher order displacement model for linear and geometrically non-linear analysis (that accounts for large displacements in the sense of von Karman) of doubly curved laminated composite and sandwich shells under transverse loads is presented. The displacement model ac counts for cubic and constant variation of tangential and transverse displacement compo nents respectively through the shell thickness. The assumed displacement model elimi nates the use of shear correction coefficients. The discrete element chosen is a nine-noded quadrilateral element with nine degrees of freedom per node. The accuracy of the for mulation is then established by comparing the present results with the available analytical closed-form solutions, three-dimensional elasticity solutions and other finite element solu tions.