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The first order shear deformation theory for symmetrically laminated composite
plates on elastic foundation

Article  in  ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING · October 2007

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 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

THE FIRST ORDER SHEAR DEFORMATION THEORY

FOR SYMMETRICALLY LAMINATED COMPOSITE PLATES
ON ELASTIC FOUNDATION
S. Seren Akavci *
Department of Architecture, University of Cukurova
Adana, TURKEY
Huseyin R. Yerli and Ali Dogan
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cukurova, 01330 Balcali, Adana,
TURKEY

1. INTRODUCTION
In the classical theory of plates (CPT), it is assumed that plane sections initially normal to the mid surface before
deformation remain plane and normal to that surface after deformation. This is the result of neglecting transverse shear
strains. However, non-negligible shear deformations occur in thick and moderately thick plates and the theory gives
inaccurate results for laminated plates. So, it is obvious that transverse shear deformations have to be taken into account
in the analysis. One of the well known plate theories is the Reissner and Mindlin model [1–3] which is a first order shear
deformation theory (FSDT) [4,5] and takes the displacement field as linear variations of midplane displacements. In this
theory, the relation between the resultant shear forces and the shear strains is affected by the shear correction factors.
This method has some advantages due to its simplicity and low computational cost. Some another plate theories, namely,
higher order shear deformation theories (HSDT), which include the effect of transverse shear deformations are;
Swaminathan [6], Ferreira [7] and Zenkour [8]. One of these theories, Reddy [9], provided a simple higher- order theory
which accounts not only for transverse shear strains but also for a parabolic variation of the transverse shear strains
through the thickness, and there is no need to use shear correction coefficients in the computing of shear stresses.

*
Address for correspondence:
Dr. S. Seren Akavci
Department of Architecture
University of Cukurova
01330 Balcali, Adana / Turkey
e-mail:akavci@cukurova.edu.tr
Tel: 90.322.3387230; Fax: 90.322.3386126
Key Words: laminated, composite, plate, shear, Winkler, Pasternak
“This work has been supported by Cukurova University Scientific Research Project under Grant MMF.2006.BAP4.”

Paper Received 11 July 2005; Revised 23 February 2006; Accepted 9 June 2007

October 2007 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B 341
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

In some of the analyzes of the plates on elastic foundation, a single parameter k0 is used to describe the foundation
behavior [10–12]. In this method it is assumed that there is a proportional interaction between pressure and deflection of
the applied point in the foundation. This foundation is modelled by discrete vertical springs and does not take into
account the transverse shear deformations. Some other researchers have modeled the foundation with two parameters.
One of these models is the Pasternak model. This two parameter model takes into account effect of shear interaction
among the points in the foundation [13–17].
In this study the first–order shear deformation theory of Reisnner–Mindlin [1–3], has been studied for laminated
plates on an elastic foundation. The analytical solutions for bending deflections of symmetric cross-ply laminates have
been presented. The governing equations are derived by the principle of minimum total potential energy. The results of
the present analysis are compared with the Finite Element Method and found to be in good agreement. Then the effects
of foundation stiffness on bending of laminated plates are investigated.
2. GOVERNING EQUATIONS
The displacement field of a rectangular laminated plate, based on the classical plate theory and including the effect of
transverse shear deformations, can be expressed as [1-3]
⎡ ∂w 0 ⎤
u (x , y , z ) = u 0 (x , y ) + z ⎢α + β θx ⎥
⎣ ∂x ⎦
⎡ ∂w 0 ⎤
v (x , y , z ) = v 0 (x , y ) + z ⎢α + β θy ⎥ (1)
⎣ ∂y ⎦
w (x , y , z ) = w 0 (x , y )

where u0(x, y), v0(x, y) and w0(x, y) denote the corresponding midplane displacements in the x, y, z directions and θx and
θy are the rotations of normals to midplane about the y and x axes. The above displacement field is the general
displacement field which gives both the CPT and FSDT theories, as:
• Classical plate theory (CPT): α = –1, β = 0
• First order shear deformation theory (FSDT): α = 0, β = 1.
The principle of virtual displacements for a laminated plate resting on elastic foundation can be stated in
analytical form as:
h /2
1
∫ ∫ (σ
−h / 2 A
x δε x + σ y δε y + τ xy δγ xy + τ xz δγ xz + τ yz δγ yz ) dA dz +
2 A∫
(k 0 w 0 + k 1∇2w 0 )dA + ∫ q0 δwdA = 0,
A
(2)

in which w0 is vertical displacement of mid plane of the plate, k0 is Winkler modulus, k1 is the shear modulus of
∂2 ∂2
foundation and ∇ 2 = ( + 2) .
∂x 2
∂y

If Equation (2) is written in terms of stress and moment resultants and integrated by parts then collecting the
coefficients of δu, δv, δw, δθx and δθy, equilibrium equations are obtained as;
∂N x ∂N xy
+ =0
∂x ∂y
∂N xy ∂N y
+ =0
∂x ∂y
∂Qx ∂Qy (3)
+ + q0 + k 0w 0 − k 1∇2w 0 = 0
∂x ∂y
∂M x ∂M xy
+ − Qx = 0
∂x ∂y
∂M y ∂M xy
+ − Qy = 0
∂y ∂x

If the equations of (3) are rewritten in terms of displacements for cross-ply symmetrically laminated plates, the above
equations are obtained:

342 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B October 2007
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

∂ 2u 0 ∂ 2v 0 ⎛ ∂ 2u ∂ 2v 0 ⎞
A11 + A12 + A 66 ⎜ 20 + ⎟=0 (4)
∂x 2
∂x 2
⎝ ∂y ∂x ∂y ⎠

⎛ ∂ 2u 0 ∂ 2v 0 ⎞ ∂ 2u 0 ∂ 2v 0
A 66 ⎜ + 2 ⎟
+ A12 + A 22 =0 (5)
⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂x ⎠ ∂x ∂y ∂y 2

⎡ ⎛ ∂θ x ∂ 2w 0 ⎞ ⎛ ∂θ y ∂ 2w 0 ⎞ ⎤ ⎛ ∂ 2w 0 ∂ 2w 0 ⎞ (6)
β ⎢ A55 ⎜ + 2 ⎟
+ A 44 ⎜ + 2 ⎟⎥
+ q 0 + k 0w 0 − k 1 ⎜ + ⎟=0 (6)
⎝ ∂x ∂x ⎠ ⎝ ∂y ∂y ⎠ ⎦ ⎝ ∂x ∂y 2 ⎠
2
⎣
⎡ ∂ 2θ ∂ 2θ y ⎛ ∂ 2θ x ∂ 2θ y ⎞ ⎛ ∂w 0 ⎞ ⎤
β ⎢ D11 2x + D12 + D 66 ⎜ + ⎟⎟ − A 55 ⎜ θ x + ⎟⎥ = 0 (7)
∂x ∂x ∂y ⎜
⎝ ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂x ⎠ ⎦
2
⎣ ⎠ ⎝

⎡ ∂ 2θ x ∂ 2θ y ⎛ ∂ 2θ x ∂ 2θ y ⎞ ⎛ ∂w 0 ⎞ ⎤
β ⎢ D12 + D 22 + D 66 ⎜ + ⎟⎟ − A 44 ⎜ θ y + ⎟⎥ = 0 (8)
∂x ∂y ∂y ⎜
⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ⎠ ⎦
2 2
⎣ ⎠ ⎝

3. NUMERICAL PROCEDURE
For the solution of Equations (4–8) the Navier method is used. The displacement and load functions are selected as
the following Fourier series:
∞ ∞
mπ x nπ y
u ( x , y ) = ∑∑ A mn cos sin
m =1 n =1 a b
∞ ∞
mπ x nπ y
v (x , y ) = ∑∑ B mn sin cos
m =1 n =1 a b
∞ ∞
mπ x nπ y
w (x , y ) = ∑∑C mn sin sin (9)
m =1 n =1 a b
∞ ∞
mπ x nπ y
θ x = ∑∑T x mn cos sin
m =1 n =1 a b
∞ ∞
mπ x nπ y
θ y = ∑∑T y mn sin cos
m =1 n =1 a b
∞ ∞
mπ x nπ y
q (x , y ) = ∑∑Q mn sin sin
m =1 n =1 a b
where;
⎧⎪q 0 for sinusoidal load , m = n = 1
Q mn = ⎨ 16 q 0
⎪⎩ mn π 2 for uniform load , m , n = 1,3,5,...

Substituting Equations (9) in (4–8) we get below equation for any fixed value of m and n;
⎡ a11 a12 a13 a14 a15 ⎤ ⎧ A mn ⎫ ⎧ 0 ⎫
⎢a ⎪ ⎪ ⎪
⎢ 21 a22 a23 a24 a25 ⎥⎥ ⎪ B mn ⎪ ⎪ 0
⎪
⎢ a31 ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪⎪ (10)
a32 a33 a34 a35 ⎥ ⎨ C mn ⎬ = ⎨Q mn ⎬ .
⎢ ⎥ ⎪T ⎪ ⎪ 0 ⎪
⎢ a41 a42 a43 a44 a45 ⎥ x mn
⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪
⎢a a52 a53 a54 a55 ⎥⎦ ⎪⎩T y mn ⎪⎭ ⎪⎩ 0 ⎪⎭
⎣ 51

Where
a11 = A11λ 2 + A 66 µ 2
a12 = λ µ ( A12 + A 66 )
a13 = a14 = a15 = 0, a23 = a24 = a25 = 0
a22 = A 66λ + A 22 µ
2 2

a33 = β ( A 55 λ 2 + A 44 µ 2 ) + k 0 + k 1 ( λ 2 + µ 2 )
(11)
a34 = β A 55 λ
a35 = β A 44 µ
a44 = β ( A 55 + D11 λ 2 + D 66 µ 2 )
a45 = β ( D12 + D 66 ) λµ
a55 = β ( A 44 + D 66 λ 2 + D 22 µ 2 )

October 2007 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B 343
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

and α = m π and β = nπ .
a b

4. NUMERICAL RESULTS
A computer program has been prepared for the analytical solution of bending of laminated plates resting on an
elastic foundation. First, a numerical example is solved to verify the computer program and the results are compared with
those obtained from the Finite Element Method (Example 1). Then additional examples are solved to search the effect of
foundation stiffness and the fiber orientations on the bending of laminated plates resting on elastic foundation (Examples
2–3).
Example 1. In this example a symmetrically laminated (0/90/0)s and simply supported square plate resting on a Winkler
foundation (k0=100 Pa/m, k1=0) is considered. All the layers are of equal thickness and their material properties are:
E1=181×106 kN/m2, E2=10.3×106 kN/m2, G12=7.17×106 kN/m2, ν12=0.28. The side length of plate is 12 m. The plate is
subjected to a uniformly distributed load, q=1 kN/m2. For verification, the problem is solved by using the present method
and finite element method (ANSYS computer program) and the results are compared. In the finite element analysis the
12×12 finite element mesh is used. The foundation is modeled by LINK3D element and the plate is modeled by
SHELL91 element.
The displacement and stress distributions along the x-axis of the plate are given in Figures 1–3 for two different
foundation stiffnesses.

12
0.014

0.012 10

0.01 8
w(mm)
w (mm)

0.008
6
In figures;
0.006 k0 =0, k1=0 4
0.004 k0 =100 Pa/m, k1=0
Present analysis 2
0.002 ANSYS
0
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
x (m)
x (m)

(a) a/h = 10 (b) a/h = 100

Figure 1. The displacement distributions along the x-axis for different foundation stiffnesses

8000
80
7000
70
6000
σx (kN/m2)

60
σx (kN/m2)

50 5000

40 In figures; 4000
30 k0 =0, k1=0 3000
k0 =100 Pa/m, k1=0
20 2000
Present analysis
10 ANSYS 1000
0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
x (m)
x (m)

(a) a/h = 10 (b) a/h = 100

Figure 2. σx distribution along the x axis at the upper layer of the plate

344 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B October 2007
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

500
400
300
200
100
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 0
x (m) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
x (m)

(a) a/h = 10 (b) a/h = 100

Figure 3. σy distribution along the x axis at the upper layer of the plate
It is seen from the figures that, when the plate thickness ratio a/h is increased, the effect of the foundation stiffness is
evident. While a/h = 10, distributions of displacement and stress are almost same for different foundation stiffnesses. But
when a/h =100, the distributions of displacement and stress are different for different foundation stiffnesses.
Example 2. A simply supported, (0/90/0) degree cross-ply laminate with which dimensions of a and b, in x and y
directions respectively, is considered as subjected to a sinusoidally distributed load and resting on a Pasternak
foundation. The lamina properties are:
E 1 = 25 × 106 psi, E 2 = 106 psi
G12 = G13 = 0.5 × 106 psi, G 23 = 0.2 × 106 psi, ν 12 = ν 13 = 0.25.

In graphics:
h 3E 2 2 ⎛a b h ⎞ h
2
⎛a b h ⎞ h
2
w =w 10 , σ x = σ x ⎜ , , ⎟ , σ y =σy ⎜ , , ⎟ ,
q 0a 4 ⎝ 2 2 2 ⎠ q 0a
2
⎝ 2 2 6 ⎠ q 0a
2

⎛a ⎞ h ⎛ b ⎞ h
τ yz = τ yz ⎜ ,0, 0 ⎟ , τ xz = τ xz ⎜ 0, , 0 ⎟
⎝2 ⎠ q 0a ⎝ 2 ⎠ q 0a

The nondimensionalized stress and deflection distributions along the thickness of laminate, which are calculated by
the formulas given above, for two different foundation stiffnesses and thickness ratios (a/h) are given in Figures 4–5.
It is seen from the Figures 4–5 that although the foundation stiffness is not effective on bending when a/h=10, its
influence increases with increasing a/h. When this value is equal to 100, the effect of foundation stiffness is evident.
Example 3. A simply supported, (0/90/90/0) degree square cross-ply laminate resting on a Pasternak foundation and
subjected to sinusoidally distributed transverse load is considered. Material properties are same as for the second
example. The nondimensionalized stress and deflection distributions along the thickness of laminate, which are
calculated by the formuleas given in second example, for two different foundation stiffnesses and thickness ratios (a/h)
are given in Figures 6–7.
In this example, it can be seen from figures that effect of foundation stiffness is evident when a/h ratio increases as
in the previous example.
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The bending analysis of cross-ply rectangular thick plates resting on elastic foundation has been done by using first
order shear deformation theory. A computer program has been developed from the present analysis. For verifying of
present analysis, a numerical example has been solved and compared with finite element method and found in good
agreement. Some other numerical examples have been solved for observing the influence of the elastic foundation on the
bending response of symmetrically laminated thick plates.
The results of examples show that the mid-plane deflections and stresses of the laminated plate are significantly
influenced by foundation stiffness. While the plate thickness ratio a/h decreases, the effect of foundation stiffness
decreases and when a/h = 10, distribution of deflections and shear stresses for both of foundation stiffnesses are nearly
same. But when a/h = 100, distribution of deflections and shear stresses for both of foundation stiffnesses are
significantly different.

October 2007 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B 345
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

Figure 4. Stress and deflection distributions of 0/90/0 laminate resting on elastic foundation for thickness ratio of a/h=10

Figure 5. Stress and deflection distributions of 0/90/0 laminate resting on Pasternak foundation for thickness ratio of a/h=100

346 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B October 2007
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4

z/h

z/h
0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2
0.1
σx 0.1 σy
0 0
-0.6 -0.4 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
-0.2 -0.2
-0.3 -0.3
-0.4 -0.4
-0.5 -0.5
0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4
0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2
0.1 τ xz 0.1
τ yz

z/h
0 0
z/h

-0.1 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 -0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14
-0.2 -0.2
-0.3 -0.3
-0.4 -0.4
-0.5 -0.5
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
w In figures;
0.3 k0 =0, k1=0
0.2 k0 =300 Pa/m, k1=300 N/m
0.1
x/a
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Figure 6. Stress and deflection distributions of 0/90/90/0 laminate resting on Pasternak foundation for thickness ratio of a/h=10
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.3
z/h
z/h

0.3

0.1
σx
0.2
0.1
σy
0
-0.6 -0.4 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3
-0.2
-0.3
-0.3
-0.4
-0.5
-0.5
0.5
0.5
0.4 0.4
0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2
0.1 τ xz 0.1 τ yz
0 0
z/h
z/h

-0.1 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 -0.1 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14

-0.2 -0.2
-0.3
-0.3
-0.4
-0.4
-0.5
-0.5

0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
w 0.25
In figures;
0.2
k0 =0, k1=0
0.15
k0 =300 Pa/m, k1=300 N/m
0.1 x/a
0.05
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Figure 7. Stress and deflection distributions of 0/90/90/0 laminate resting on Pasternak foundation for thickness ratio of a/h=100

October 2007 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B 347
 S. Seren Akavci, Huseyin R. Yerli, and Ali Dogan

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348 The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, Volume 32, Number 2B October 2007

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