Nonlinear thermoelastic analysis of composite panels under non-uniform temperature distribution

The response of moderately thick laminated panels experiencing large displacements and rotations under nonuniform thermal loading is investigated through a nonlinear finite element analysis. The present nonlinear thermoelastic analysis incorporates an anisoparametric, doubly curved, shallow shell element that is free of the 'locking' phenomenon. The effects of large displacements and rotations, transverse shear deformations, the coupling between stretching and bending due to shallow geometry, and Duhamel-Neumann-type thermoelastic material anisotropy are included in the element formulation. The equations of equilibrium are derived from the virtual work principle, along with the co-rotational form of the total Lagrangian formulation. A non-uniform temperature field across the shell surface is approximated by piecewise-uniform temperature distributions over individual elements. In the thickness direction, the temperature distribution is approximated linearly. Accuracy of the present analysis is established by comparison with benchmark solutions. The numerical results are presented for various configurations, including cutouts under uniform and non-uniform temperatures. The numerical results demonstrate that the present finite element analysis is computationally robust and efficient. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.