Inter-Laminar Strain Energy Continuity In Orthotropic Face Sandwich And Composite Plate Analysis Using Improved Higher-Order Theory

The main goal of this paper is, to suggest improved higher order refined theory to the analysis of perfectly bonded stack sandwich and composite laminates with usual type lamination configurations. The analysis incorporates continuous flexural and in-plane displacements in the interface. Furthermore, the transverse shear stress is continuous and also constrained with the Lagrange multiplier technique by introducing new fourteen unknown variables. The unknown variables expressed in terms of interfacial strain energy; assuming the interfacial strain energy is continuous throughout the thickness of the laminate. To determine the newly introduced flexural and in-plane unknowns’ variables, total potential energy (TPE) is minimized using varational calculus. The numerical results are compared with existing reliable published papers. In general, the aforementioned approach is sufficient enough to analyze sandwich and laminate structures with the required accuracy.