Finite element analysis of laminated hat-stiffened plates

Composite plates stiffened with hat shaped stiffener have been analyzed by the finite element method. A new scheme has been used to analyze composite hat-stiffened plate. in the present investigation, stiffener element has been formulated as a three noded beam element. An eight noded isoparametric quadratric plate bending element has been used for the plate element. This formulation does not impose any restriction on stiffener spacing and orientation within the plate element. The stiffness matrix of the stiffener is generated first irrespective of its orientation within the plate element. Then the stiffness matrix is transferred to that of the plate element depending on its position in the plate element before assembling to form the global stiffness matrix.