Finite element analysis of stiffened laminated plates under transverse loading

A finite element model is developed to study the behavior of stiffened laminated plates under transverse loadings. Transverse shear flexibility is incorporated in both beam and plate displacement fields. A laminated plate element with 45 degrees of freedom is used in conjunction with a laminated beam element having 12 degrees of freedom for the bending analysis of eccentrically-stiffened laminated plates. The validity of the formulation is demonstrated by comparing with the available solutions in the literature. The numerical results are presented for eccentrically-stiffened layered plates having various boundary conditions and with stiffeners varying in number. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.