Accuracy of refined finite elements for laminated plate analysis

Abstract This paper compares and evaluates various plate finite elements to analyze the static response of laminated plate when varying the thickness ratio, orthotropic ratio and the stacking sequence of the lay-out. Plate elements were created from different theoretical assumptions for the displacement distribution along the thickness direction. Classical (Kirchhoff and Reissner–Mindlin), known refined (Reddy, Pandya, and Kant), and other higher-order displacement fields were then implemented up-to fourth-order expansion. Following this the Carrera Unified Formulation was used to derive finite element matrices in terms of fundamental nuclei which consist of 3 × 3 arrays. The accuracy of a given plate element was established in terms of the error vs. thickness-to-length parameter. A significant number of finite elements for plates were implemented and compared using displacement and stress variables for various plate problems. In this paper concluding results are presented as number and type of required displacement variables vs. accuracy on a given stress/displacement parameter. These diagrams are labelled as Best Plate Theories BPT curves, which differ by changing geometry, material data and lay-out as well as loading and boundary conditions.