A unified nonlinear formulation for plate and shell theories

A general geometrically exact nonlinear theory for the dynamics of laminated plates and shells under-going large-rotation and small-strain vibrations in three-dimensional space is presented. The theory fully accounts for geometric nonlinearities by using the new concepts of local displacements and local engineering stress and strain measures, a new interpretation and manipulation of the virtual local rotations, an exact coordinate transformation, and the extended Hamilton principle. Moreover, the model accounts for shear coupling effects, continuity of interlaminar shear stresses, free shear-stress conditions on the bonding surfaces, and extensionality. Because the only differences among different plates and shells are the initial curvatures of the coordinates used in the modeling and all possible initial curvatures are included in the formulation, the theory is valid for any plate or shell geometry and contains most of the existing nonlinear and shear-deformable plate and shell theories as special cases. Five fully nonlinear partial-differential equations and corresponding boundary and corner conditions are obtained, which describe the extension-extension-bending-shear-shear vibrations of general laminated two-dimensional structures and display linear elastic and nonlinear geometric coupling among all motions. Moreover, the energy and Newtonian formulations are completely correlated in the theory.     

A nonlinear composite plate theory

A general nonlinear theory for the dynamics of elastic anisotropic plates undergoing moderate-rotation vibrations is presented. The theory fully accounts for geometric nonlinearities (moderate rotations and displacements) by using local stress and strain measures and an exact coordinate transformation, which result in nonlinear curvatures and strain-displacement expressions that contain the von Karman strains as a special case. The theory accounts for transverse shear deformations by using a third-order theory and for extensionality and changes in the configuration due to in-plane and transverse deformations. Five third-order nonlinear partial-differential equations of motion describing the extension-extension-bending-shear-shear vibrations of plates are obtained by an asymptotic analysis, which reveals that laminated plates display linear elastic and nonlinear geometric couplings among all motions.     

A properly invariant theory of small deformations superposed on large deformations of an elastic rod

In the context of the direct or Cosserat theory of rods developed by Green, Naghdi and several of their co-workers, this paper is concerned with the development of a theory of small deformations which are superposed on large deformations. The resulting theory is properly invariant under all superposed rigid body motions. Furthermore, it is also valid for elastic rods which are subject to kinematical constraints, and it specializes to a linear theory of an elastic rod which is invariant under superposed rigid body motions. The construction of these theories is based on the method developed by Casey & Naghdi [1] who established similar theories for unconstrained nonpolar elastic bodies.     

On consistent plate theories

Summary  Applying the uniform-approximation technique, consistent plate theories of different orders are derived from the basic equations of the three-dimensional linear theory of elasticity. The zeroth-order approximation allows only for rigid-body motions of the plate. The first-order approximation is identical to the classical Poisson-Kirchhoff plate theory, whereas the second-order approximation leads to a Reissner-type theory. The proposed analysis does not require any a priori assumptions regarding the distribution of either displacements or stresses in thickness direction. Received 10 January 2002; accepted for publication 16 April 2002     

Conservation laws in plate theories

Summary Three conservation laws, expressed in terms of line and surface integrals, are derived for Reissner's transverse shear theory of plates. Mindlin's and Kirchhoff's (or classical) theories are included as particular cases. A physical interpretation of three plate transformations used to obtain the conservation laws is proposed. The path-domain independence property of the integrals, their connection to energy release rates due to cavity motions and their relationships with stress intensity factors are also discussed.

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Erhaltungssätze für Plattentheorien

Übersicht Für Reissner's Theorie von Platten mit Querschub werden drei Erhaltungssätze, die durch Linien- und Flächenintegrale dargestellt werden, hergeleitet. Mindlins und Kirchhoffs Theorie sind als Sonderfälle enthalten. Vorgeschlagen wird eine physikalische Deutung von drei Variablentransformationen der Platte, die zur Herleitung der Erhaltungssätze benutzt werden. Weiterhin wird die Weg-Bereichsunabhängigkeit der Integrale, ihre Verknüpfung mit Energiefreisetzungsraten bei bewegten Löchern und der Zusammenhang mit Spannungsintensitätsfaktoren erörtert.

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on leave from Inst. of Nuclear Research, Swierk, Poland     

Navier solution for the elastic equilibrium problems of anisotropic skew thin plate wite variable thickness in nonlinear theories

This paper discusses the elastic equilibrium problems of anisotropic skew thin plate ofvariable thickness simply supported on all four sides in nonlinear theories,and uses theNavier method to seek an approach to the problem,and to illustrate the solution with theexamples.In conclusion,the mention is made of the scope of application and theconvergency of the solution.     

Molecular theories of nonlinear viscoelasticity of polymers

It is emphasized that considerable advances have been made recently in the development of the molecular theories of nonlinear viscoelasticity of concentrated solutions and melts of linear polymers. The new ideas in this exceptionally important field of the rheology of polymers are analysed. The methods by which the constraints (entanglements) imposed on the motion of macromolecules by the polymer environment are taken into account are also considered in the paper. The most detailed discussion is devoted to the model of topological constraints in the form of a tube and to the self-consistent theory of anisotropic micro-viscoelasticity which takes into account the relaxation nature of the interaction of macromolecules with their surrounding medium as well as the anisotropy of their mobility.Invited paper, presented at the XII-th All-Union Symposium on Rheology held in Riga (USSR), December 7–9, 1982.     

ANALYTICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN EIGENVALUES OF CIRCULAR PLATE BASED ON VARIOUS PLATE THEORIES

Based on the mathematical similarity of the axisymmetric eigenvalue problems of a circular plate between the classical plate theory(CPT), the first-order shear deformation plate theory(FPT) and the Reddy's third-order shear deformation plate theory (RPT), analytical relations between the eigenvalues of circular plate based on various plate theories are investigated. In the present paper, the eigenvalue problem is transformed to solve an algebra equation. Analytical relationships that are expressed explicitly between various theories are presented. Therefore, from these relationships one can easily obtain the exact RPT and FPT solutions of critical buckling load and natural frequency for a circular plate with CPT solutions. The relationships are useful for engineering application, and can be used to check the validity, convergence and accuracy of numerical results for the eigenvalue problem of plates.     

Studies of nonlinear theories for thin shells

In order to formulate the equations for the study here, the Fourier expansions upon the system of orthonormal polynomials areused.It may be considerably convenient to obtain the expressions of displacements as well as stresses directly from the solutions.Based on the principle of virtual work the equilibrium equations of various orders are formulated. In particular, the system of third-order is given in detail, thus providing the reference for accuracy analysis of lower-order equations. A theorem about the differentiation of Legendre series term by term is proved as the basis of mathematical analysis. Therefore the functions used are specified and the analysis rendered is no longer a formal one.The analysis will show that the Kirchhoff-Love’s theory is merely of the first-order and the theory which includes the transverse deformation but keeps the normal straight is essentially of the first order, too.     

The two-dimensional nonlinear orthotropic plate

Free University Berlin     

A generalized multilength scale nonlinear composite plate theory with delamination

A new type of plate theory for the nonlinear analysis of laminated plates in the presence of delaminations and other history-dependent effects is presented. The formulation is based on a generalized two length scale displacement field obtained from a superposition of global and local displacement effects. The functional forms of global and local displacement fields are arbitrary. The theoretical framework introduces a unique coupling between the length scales and represents a novel two length scale or local-global approach to plate analysis. Appropriate specialization of the displacement field can be used to reduce the theory to any currently available, variationally derived, displacement based (discrete layer, smeared, or zig-zag) plate theory.The theory incorporates delamination and/or nonlinear elastic or inelastic interfacial behavior in a unified fashion through the use of interfacial constitutive (cohesive) relations. Arbitrary interfacial constitutive relations can be incorporated into the theory without the need for reformulation of the governing equations. The theory is sufficiently general that any material constitutive model can be implemented within the theoretical framework. The theory accounts for geometric nonlinearities to allow for the analysis of buckling behavior.The theory represents a comprehensive framework for developing any order and type of displacement based plate theory in the presence of delamination, buckling, and/or nonlinear material behavior as well as the interactions between these effects.The linear form of the theory is validated by comparison with exact solutions for the behavior of perfectly bonded and delaminated laminates in cylindrical bending. The theory shows excellent correlation with the exact solutions for both the inplane and out-of-plane effects and the displacement jumps due to delamination. The theory can accurately predict the through-the-thickness distributions of the transverse stresses without the need to integrate the pointwise equilibrium equations. The use of a low order of the general theory, i.e. use of both global and local displacement fields, reduces the computational expense compared to a purely discrete layer approach to the analysis of laminated plates without loss of accuracy. The increased efficiency, compared to a solely discrete layer theory, is due to the coupling introduced in the theory between the global and local displacement fields.     

Establishing experiments in tensor nonlinear theories of continuum mechanics

A basic scheme of establishing experiments to find three material functions of tensor nonlinear constitutive relations in continuum mechanics is described. These material functions depend on the three invariants of a stress state. It is proposed to use long hollow cylindrical specimens suitable to implement any combination of the following realizable stress states: uniaxial tension, torsion, longitudinal shear, and uniform compression.