Hygrothermal effects on the structural behaviour of thick composite laminates using higher-order theory

Here, static and dynamic characteristics of thick composite laminates exposed to hygrothermal environment are studied using a realistic higher-order theory developed recently. The formulation accounts for the nonlinear variation of the in-plane and transverse displacements through the thickness, and abrupt discontinuity in slope of the in-plane displacements at any interface. The analysis is carried out employing a C 0 QUAD-8 isoparametric higher-order finite element. It is shown that the shear deformation theory without accounting for the thickness-stretching effect and slope discontinuity in the in-plane displacements may not be adequate for the analysis of fairly thick composite laminates exposed to hygrothermal loading. The significance of retaining various higher-order terms in the present model, in evaluating the deflection, buckling and natural frequency for composite laminates at different moisture concentration and temperature, is brought out through parametric study. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.