FINITE ELEMENTS

IN ANALYSIS
A N D DESIGN
ELSEVIER Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

Free-vibration analysis of stiffened laminated plates using

higher-order shear deformation theory
Ashok K u m a r G h o s h a'*, K.C. Biswal b
aMining Engineering Department, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 124, Southern Hills, Apartment No. 2,
Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
bIGIT, Sarang, Talcher, 759100 India

Abstract

Free-vibration response of stiffened laminated plates is studied using higher-order shear deformation theory. The
theory assumes a realistic cross-sectional deformation pattern and eliminates the use of shear correction coefficients.
A standard four-noded rectangular element with seven degrees of freedom at each node is developed for the stiffened
plate. Stiffness of stiffener element is reflected at all four nodes of the plate element in which the stiffener is located. Free
vibration of stiffened laminated plates with various lamination schemes is investigated. Frequencies corresponding to the
first four modes are compared with the existing literature results. Even for coarse mesh division this model predicts
acceptable results.

Nomenclature

r, S natural coordinates
a plate dimension in x-direction
b plate dimension in y-direction
t plate thickness
2 aspect ratio of plate
U, V, W displacement along x, y and z directions
Uo, Vo, Wo above displacements in mid-plane
rotation of normal to the mid-plane about y and x axes, respectively
higher-order rorations
U.z (= 6 V/6z),
( = -- (~2U/(~z2)
gl,x ( = t~N1/t~x)

* Corresponding author.

0168-874X/96/$15.00 © 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

SSDI 0 1 6 8 - 8 7 4 X I 9 5 ) 0 0 0 5 1 - 8
144 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

E11, E22 mod. of elasticity along longitudinal and transverse directions of the plate
G12, G13 rigidity modulus of the plate
Y12, Y21 Poisson's ratio of the plate
0- normal stress
"C shear stress
strains
displacement vector
[-/9] constitutive matrix
[-B] strain-nodal d.o.f, matrix
[-K] stiffness matrix
{U} stress resultant vector
N/ interpolation functions (i = 1, 2, 3, 4)
rJI determinant of the Jacobian matrix
Wi, Wj Gaussian weights
B breadth of stiffener
T depth of stiffener
EL, Ex mod. of elasticity along fiber and transverse to fiber direction of stiffener, respectively
GLT, GTZ, GZL rigidity modulus of stiffener
Nxs number of stiffeners along the x-direction of the plate
Nys number of stiffeners along the y-direction of the plate
Nx, Mx, Pxt stress resultants
Py j
total potential energy
e eccentricity of stiffener
mode frequencies where subscript m, n denote first half sine wave in x and y directions
W frequency (Hz) of stiffened laminated plate
Wo frequency (Hz) of unstiffened laminates
s stiffener

1. Introduction

Orthotropic plate idealization of stiffened plate, as developed by Hoppmann et al. [1-3] holds
good when stiffeners are spaced closely. Kirk [-4] employed the Ritz's method to obtain natural
frequencies of the first symmetric and antisymmetric modes of a simply supported rectangular plate
stiffened by a single integral stiffener. Investigation on free-vibration response of rectangular plates
continuous over identical and equally spaced elastic stiffeners with zero eccentricity is being carried
out by Wah [5]. Long [-6] used the composite beam-plate theory in considering the vibration of
eccentrically stiffened plates. Olson and Hazell [-7] solved the same problem by using the finite
element method. Prathap and Varadan [8-] analysed the large deflection case with torsion of the
beam being ignored. Mukherjee et al. [9] studied the free vibration of plates with symmetrically
placed stiffeners. They had developed an isoparametric stiffened plate element accounting for shear
deformation. Only two researchers, Chao and Lee [10] and Chattopadhyay et al. [11], had
obtained natural frequencies of stiffened composite plates. Chao and Lee [10] have found out
 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 145

natural frequencies based on the solution of equation of motion of the plate elements and stiffeners
and related displacement compatibilities. First-order shear deformation theory has been used by
Chattopadhyay et al. [11] to develop a finite element method to analyze free-vibration behaviour
of composite stiffened plates. An isoparametric quadratic stiffened plate bending model developed
earlier and applied for isotropic stiffened plates has been employed by Chattopadhyay et al. [11]
for free-vibration analysis of composite stiffened plates. The element incorporates transverse shear
deformation for both the plate and stiffener very inaccurately through the use of shear correction
factors. In the first-order theory, the shear correction factors play a crucial role in the determina-
tion of natural frequencies.
In the present investigation, vibration of stiffened laminated plates is analysed using higher-
order shear deformation theory, which assumes a realistic cross-sectional deformation pattern and
eliminates the use of shear correction factors. The advantage of the formulation is that the stiffeners
can be placed anywhere within the plate element and they need not necessarily follow nodal lines.
The reliability and accuracy of the present element, with 28 d.o.f, per element, is presented in 1-12]
for static case. Natural frequencies are found for various stiffener eccentricity for specially
orthotropic, antisymmetric and multiple-ply isotropic laminates. Results are reasonable and
consistent with the available analytical and numerical results even with a coarse mesh. But before
accepting the element, it is felt necessary to have an experimental verification of the finite element
values. Experimental results show very good matching with the finite element values.

2. Theoretical formulation

The basic principle used here is the Hamilton's principle, which states that the variation of the
Lagrangian during any time interval to and tl must be zero, i.e.

6 (U -- K + A) dt =0, (1)
0

where U is the total strain energy, K the kinetic energy and A the work done by external forces ( = 0
in flee-vibration case)

2.1. Plate elemem formulation

A four-noded finite element is developed using the energy approach. Displacement field is so
chosen that it can explain adequately the parabolic distribution of transverse shear and non-
linearity of in-plane displacements across the thickness. Displacement field is assumed as
U(x, y, z) = U(x, y, O) + ZC~x(X,y, O) + z 2~x(x, y, O) + z 3 (~(x, y, O) -- go + zq~xo + z 2~xo + z3(xo,
V(x,y,z) = V(x,y,O) + zd&(x,y,O) + z2~y(x,y,O) + z3(y(x,y,O) = Uo + zgpyo + z2~yo + z3(yo, (2)
W (x, y, z) = W (x, y, O) = Wo,
Uo, Vo and Wo are the displacements of the corresponding point on the reference surface with
coordinates (Xo, Yo, Zo), and 4~xo, q~ro are the average rotations about y and x axes, respectively, of
146 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

Initial configurntion
of n verfico[ line

# i X
i l i 1

Y
Y ~
~
i
w
° 'A
,x
covn
e,rfa
ig
gue
radto
ien
form
Da
vertical line
to
fthie
n

Mid surface
Actual deformntion
configurotion of the
vertical line

Fig. 1. Deformation of the normal to the mid-plane.

the normals to the mid-surface of the undeformed plate. ~x, (x, ~y, and ~y are higher-order terms in
the power series expansion. Fig. 1 gives the deformation of a section of the plate by a plane parallel
to xz plane. Applying the conditions that the top and the bottom surfaces are free from transverse
shear stresses, i.e.

zx=(x, y, +_ t/2) = 0 and zy=(x,y, +_ t/2) =0.

Eqs. (2) reduce to

U(x, y, z) = Uo + zEd?xO - 4(8w/Sx + Oxo)/(3(t/z)2)],

V(x, y, z) = Vo + z[¢yo - 4(~w/~y + ¢yo)/(3(t/z)2)], (3)

W(x, y, z) = W0.

2.1.1. Interpolation function

(a) Element coordinates x and y; in-plane displacements Uo and Vo and the two rotations
(qSxo, ~byo) are interpolated by

p = ~ N~Pi (i = 1-4), (4)

where N~ can be expressed in the natural coordinate system (r and s) as

Ni = ¼(1 + rri) (1 + ssi). (5)

 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analys& and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 147

(b) Transverse displacement is interpolated using a non-conforming shape function as proposed

by Zienkiewicz and Cheung [13], i.e.

W,xl
t W,yl
wol

W,02
w(x, y) = [ A gl hi f2 if2 h2 f3 ~3 ha f4 ~4 h4] " (6)

where

f / = ~(1 + rri)(1 + ssi)(2 + rri + ssi -- s 2 - - r2),

I W,x4
~ W,y4
1
gi = (a/16)ri(1 + rri)2(1 + ssi)(rri --1)

and

hi = (b/16)si(l + ssl)2(1 + rri)(ssi - 1) for i = 1-4.

Here r = 2(x - xc)/a; s = 2(y - yc)/b and (x¢, Yc) are the coordinates of the centroid of the plate.

2.1.2. Stress-strain relation

Each orthotropic layer of the plate has known elastic constants. The stress-strain relation of any
particular layer, with one of the axes of orthotropy coinciding with one of the principal axes, is
given by

Cll C12 C13 ¢14 0 0

O'y C21 C22 C23 C24 0 0 ~y
o- z
C31 ¢32 C33 C34 0 0 gz
"Cxy ~xy
(7)
C41 ¢42 C43 ¢44 0 0
~xz I 0 0 0 0 c55 c56 8xz)
"CYZ,I 0 0 0 0 C65 ¢66 ~'yz

Since normal stress az is small it can be neglected. The corresponding strain gz can be eliminated
from Eqs. (7) by putting Oz equal to zero. This results in reduced stress-strain relationship as

o~,) ci~ cl: ci4 0 0

a~t c~1 cl2 c;4 0 0
72xy = Ct41 Ct42 Cd,4 0 0 ~xy • (8)
t t
"Cxz| 'D 0 0 ¢55 ¢56 gxz~
zy~!. 0 0 0 c~5 c;6 ~'yzJ
148 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

where

ci~ = c~j - c~3cj3/c33 for i, j = 1, 2, 4 and ci~ = c~j for i, j = 5, 6.

Once the displacement field and the stress-strain relations are established, the rest of the steps
follow logically towards the development of the element stiffness matrix. An explicit derivation of
the stiffness matrix is given in [12].

2.2. Stiffener element f o r m u l a t i o n

The geometry of stiffeners and their layer details and fiber orientations are shown in Figs.
2(a)-(c). Stiffeners placed on plate parallel to x and y directions are shown in Fig. 3. The middle
plane of the plate is taken as the reference plane for the stiffener. The assumed displacement field for
x-stiffener is

U ( x , y, z) = U 0 -q- Z~)xO -~- zZ~x0 -~-Z3~xO,

(9)

W(x, y, z) = w (x, y, 0) = Wo.

The condition of zero transverse shearing stresses at the top and bottom surfaces of the plate and
stiffener, respectively, reduces eqs. (9) to

U(x, y, z) = Uo + z[q~xo + (Ow/Ox + dp~o) (z/B) - (Ow/ax + Ck~o)(z2/A)],

(lo)
W (x, y, z) = Wo.

The strain vector can be given by

f~0 ~ ~0 s ~ fkxls ] z 2 ffk2s ] z 3 f~3s} (11)

{e~} = ~eozj ~ = [eo j + z ~k~z~; + (k2~J + '

where

~x° = = Vo,~, k~s = ~ o , o ; k L s = 2(~w/~x + 4~o)/B,

~°z = 4~o + Wo,x, k~s = (~2w/~x2 + 4~o,~)/~, kLs = - 3(~w/~x + 4~o)/A,

k3s = - ( a 2 w l a x ~ + 4~xo,~)lA

with A = 3[T + (t/Z)] 2 - 3 I T + (t/2)] T ( T - t ) / ( T + t), B = 2A(T + t)/[3T(T -- t)].

 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 149

/r
/ O ="

1 st. Layer
2nd. Layer
of stiffener = T " -L ~y'

t~/ ,.-.~ --'2 n fh Layer

zl 'I: N z
Stiffener cross-section

Fig. 2(a) Geometry of composite stiffened plate. Fig. 2(b). Layer details (enlarged 1).
T
°
.Y'
, // Ln

n fh Layer
x' and y' axes are poralle[ to
X and Y axes respectivetCy

Fig. 2(c). Layer details (enlarged 2)

Here strain includes linear strains, curvatures, twists and other higher-order curvatures. Eq. (11)
can also be given as

IHI where IH I - - 1 0 z 0 z2 0 z3 (12)

0 1 0 z 0 z2 0
{e~} = {~o eoxzs k~s k ~ k~s k2~ kxz~}
3 T•

Strains in stiffener can be expressed in term of nodal degrees of freedom of the plate element as:
~,° s NI,. 0 0 0 0 0 0
o
~xzs 0 0 N1 0 fl,~ gl,x h,,x
::: ( Oll
k~s 0 0 Nl,x 0 0 0 0
0 0 N, 0 fl,~ gl,~ hl,~
K~, 0 0 NI,~, 0 fl,~x gl,xx hl,~,
g2 0 0 N1 0 fl,x gl,~ hi,~
0 0 Nl,x 0 fl,xx gl,xx hl,.,,~
150 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

y,

i • [ Y-directionstiffener
x~-X-direction stiffener
Plate element
F
Fig. 3. Plate element with the stiffeners.

where

K x2 2 2 2
K~zs = kxzs/D1,
1 = kxs/D2, Kxz~ = kxz~/D3, Kxs3 = k~s/D4,
3

D1 = 3 T ( T -- t ) / [ A ( T + t)], D2=0.5×D1, Da=--3/A, D4=--I/A.

In short from,

{c°} =
(13)
The stresses in the nth layer are related to the strains through the relation

{ O-xst ~ - $11 0 s f/~xs t

"Cxzsd 0 $22 k S x z s d ~
(14)

where

$11 = C 4 Q l l + $4022 + 2c2s2(Q12 + 2033), $22 = $2044 + C2Q55,

C = cos(~,), S = sin(~,), Qll = EL/J1 -- (VLT)2ET/EL],

Q22 = QlxET/EL, 012 = VLTQ22, Q33 = GLT, Q44 = GTZ, 055 = GZL.

2.2.1. Stress resultant-strain relation

Combining eqs. (11) with eqs. (14) and integrating layer-by-layer over the thickness and width,
the following stress resultants can be obtained:

(Nxs, Mxs, Txs, P ~ s ) = f f r r x s ( 1 , z, z2, z 3 ) d y d z

d3
and

(Q~s, T ~ , Rxz )=ffz=s(1, z, z2)dydz. (15)

 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/FiniteElements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 151

The above equations can be expressed in matrix form as

NXS E° 0 E1 0 E2 0 E3 e°s
F1 0 F2 0 ~0
XZS F° 0 ~X2$

~Vixs E2 0 E 3 0 E4 kx~s
FXZS F2 0 F3 0 ~z
Zxs E4 0 E5
symmetric F4 0 ~2
~XZS ~xz
Pxs E6 K 3,

or in compact notation

{us) = Iosl {t°}, (16)

where

(E°,E1, E2, E3, E4, ES, E 6 ) = f f s ~ ( 1 , z, z2, z3, z4, z6)dydz

and

(F°,F1, F2, F3, F 4 ) = f f s 2 2 ( 1 , za, zZ, z3, z4) dydz.

2.3. Stiffness matrix

Following the steps similar to that for the plate, the element stiffness matrix of the x-stiffener can
be expressed as

Ikelxs = flBslTIZ sl IBsl dx. (17)

The stiffness matrix for a y-directional stiffener can be derived in a fashion analogous to the
procedure outlined above. The contribution of stiffeners is shared at all four nodes of the plate
element which contains the stiffeners. The contribution of the stiffeners to a particular node of plate
element depends on the proximity of the stiffener to that node. Total stiffness matrix is obtained by
adding the contributions of the stiffeners and the plate.

2.4. Mass matrix

2.4.1. (a) laminated plate

Element mass matrix is usually accomplished by the physical lumping of the structural mass at
points where the influence coefficients are defined. The resulting mass is matrix diagonal and tends
to a simple technique of formulation and solution.
152 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

Archer [14] obtained natural frequencies by using consistent mass matrix scheme which are
upper bounds to exact solution. Hinton et al. [15] used mass lumping scheme for parabolic
elements. Kant et al. [16] have used bidirectional square element and used a special mass matrix
based on Hinton's model and obtained reasonably accurate results.
A special mass matrix diagonalization scheme as given in [15, 16] has been used in the present
investigation. In this scheme, the diagonal mass is lumped in the same proportion as the diagonal
entries of the consistent mass matrix. The total mass of the element is conserved by scaling up the
entries in each node. The scheme is found to be most efficient among others [15]:

[Me] = fA[NT] [m] [_N] d(area),

where

Ni 0 0 0 0 0 0
O Ni O 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 Ni 0 0 0 0
[_N]= i =21 0 0 0 Ni 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 fi gi hi
0 0 0 0 fi,~ gl, x hi,x
0 0 0 0 fi,y gi,y hl, r

and

I1
I1
12
[m] = I2 (18)
11
]2
]2
in which 11, I2 are the normal and rotational inertias, respectively, and

(11,12) = p i l l , z 2] dz, (19)

1
where pi is the material density of the ith layer.

2.4.2. x-stiffener
The mass matrix of the x-directional stiffeners is given by

[M~]sx = fA [-N]T [m]sx [_N]s~ d(area),

(20)
 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 153

where
Ni 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4.
0 0 N~ 0 0 0 0
e_Nx,1 = E 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
i=I
0 0 0 0 fi gi hi
0 0 0 0 fi,~ gi,~ hi, x
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
and
/sxl
0
Isx2
[rr/]s x : 0
Isxl
Isx2
0
with

n
(Isx,, Isx2) -- i~ fhli+1 p'[ 1, z z] dz, (21)
1 i

in which Isxl and I~x2 are normal inertia, rotational inertia of x-stiffener respectively.

2.4.3. Y-stiffener
The mass matrix of y-directional stiffener is developed in a similar manner.

3. Solution

The governing differential equation (1) will reduce to

[M3 {2} + EK3 {d} =0, (22)
where

[K] (the stiffness matrix) = fv [BIt [C] [B] dv

and

[ m ] (the mass matrix) = ~ p [N]T I-N] dr.

Jv
154 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

Eqs. (22) have the solution of the form

{d} = aeip'{d}, (23)

where a is a scalar of dimension L, p is a scalar of dimension I/t, t = time, i = ~ / - 1 and {d} is

a non-dimensional vector, which is independent of t.
On substituting Eq. (23) into Eq. (22), we get

[K] {d} - pZ[M] {d} = 0

or

[/(] {d} = p2 [M] {d}

or

[M] {d} = 2 [K] {d},

where

2 = 1/p 2 (24)

This is a generalized real symmetric eigenvalue problem of the form [A] {z} = 2 [B] {z}, with [B]
a symmetric positive definite.
International Mathematics and Statistical Libraries (IMSL) routine GVCSF is used to calculate
eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the system:

([M3) - {d} = 0 . (25)

Having determined 2, natural frequencies can be obtained.

4. Numerical examples and results

In order to illustrate the applicability of the element developed, undamped transverse vibration
of anisotropic simply supported stiffened laminated plates are considered. Numerical examples are
chosen to demonstrate the effect of
(i) number of layers,
(ii) transverse shear deformation;
(iii) aspect ratio;
on frequencies. The following material properties are used in all the examples.
For the plate: Ell = 9.71, GPa; E22 = 3.25GPa; v12 =0.29; Ga2 = G13 =0.9025GPa and
G 2 3 = 0.2356 GPa.
For x and y stiffeners: EL=9.71 GPa; E v = 3 . 2 5 G P a ; GLa- = GzL = 0 . 9 0 2 5 G P a and
GTz = 0.2356.
 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 155

Table 1
Effect of the finite element mesh refinement on the fundamental frequency

Stiffener Mesh div. Eccentricity

0 1 2 3

Even ply fl 1 6x 6 55.29 55.42 56.47 58.79

8x8 55.65 55.79 56.88 59.26
Odd ply fll 6x6 55.29 55.19 55.44 56.17
8x 8 55.65 55.58 55.82 56.58

70

:z: 6o

z So
cz~
r,.- z.O
u..

30 I I t
2x2 4x/. 6x6
MESH D I V I S I O N

Fig. 4. Convergence study with one stiffener.

Example 1
Fundamental frequency of simply supported laminated plates with one x stiffener is obtained for
various mesh division. Both odd (900-00-90 ° ) and even ply (90°-0 °) stiffeners are considered
• Plate: a -- 400 ram; b -- 300 mm; t = 3.4 mm;
• X-stiffener: B =-- 3.0 ram, e (eccentricity) = [ ( T + t) - t)]/2 for r = 2, 4, 6 mm.
Results are given in Table 1. Convergence of first fundamental frequency of laminated plate with
even ply stiffener is s h o w n in Fig. 4.

Example 2
Natural frequencies of simply supported specially laminated plate (90°-0°-90 ° ) with one, t w o and
three Y-stiffeners (900-0°-90 ° ) in each case are investigated.
• Plate: a = 400 ram; b = 300 mm; t = 3.4 mm;
• Y-stiffener: B =:3.0 mm; e for T = 2 , 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm; Nsy = 1, 2, 3.
Natural frequencies vs. Y-stiffener eccentricity for one, t w o and three stiffeners are presented in
Figs. 5(a)-(c).
156 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

4/*0.0 440.0
GLASS/ EPOXY 90/0/@0
400.0 400.0 Nb =,Odd [ 9 0 / 0 / 9 0 ]
MESH DIV. 6 x 6 t p

360.0 GLASS / E P O X Y [ 9 0 / 0 / 9 0 ] 360.0 CHATTOPADHYAY ET A L [ 1 1 ]

Nb = Odd [ 9 0 / 0 / 9 0 ] o CHA0 & LEE [ 1 0 ] . . . ~
320.0 MESH DIV, 6 x 6
320.0 --+--PRESENT .I~
CHATTOPADHYAY ET. AL [11 .+'" o 8
280,0 o CHAO 'i, LEE [10] ..~ 2 8 0 . 0 "" o o
.1- --+--PRESENT o ÷~ ~ o ,~
240.0

200.0 zu 2 0 0 . 0
z uJ
w
::) 160.0 uJC~ 1 6 0 . 0 . . .-+-
. . . . ,-- . . _ , _ ~ _+.__ ~ ---+
(21
I.LI
t~ 4-- -4-- -4- -.--..1_ ..4. rr"
" 120.0 u.. 120.0
,5
80.0,

/,0.0

0 I
ONE STIFFENER
I I I I I
,o0oI ,

0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 ft.0 0 1.0 2-0 3,0 4.0 5.0 6.0
ECCENTRICITY (ram) E C C E N T R I C I T Y (ram)
(a) (b)

/.4o.o I
GLASS / EPOXY [ 9 0 / 0 / 9 0 1
400.0t Nb =Odd [ 9 0 / 0 / 9 0 ]
MESH DIV, 6 x 6
3 6 0 . 0 ~- C HATTOPADHYAY ET"+AL
° CHAO~ LEEtlO>f:,/~
320.0 .... PRESENT + , / .~'/7

N 280.0
..r
v
24 0.0 _,+
>-
(j,
z 2 00.0

160.0 - .,,,.._.- ~ ' ' t ' ' ' ~

Lkl
rt" m _..o~ __..4.. ~-.---I-~ ---
" 120,op o o

8 0 . 0 ~ °

40.0r THREE STIFFENERS

0 1 I I I I I I
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
ECCENTRICITY (ram)
(c)
Fig. 5. F r e q u e n c y vs. stiffener eccentricity for specially orthotropic laminate.

Example 3
Natural frequencies for antisymmetric cross-ply rectangular plates (900-0 °) with one, two and
three stiffeners (900-0 °) are investigated.
• Plate: a = 400 ram; b = 300 ram; t = 3.4 mm;
• Stiffener: B = 3 . 0 mm; e for T = 2 , 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm; Nsr = 1, 2, 3.
Figs. 6(a)-(c) s h o w the effect of eccentricity of even ply stiffener on the natural frequencies.
 A.K Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 157

320.0
320"0 F GLASS/EPOXY [ 9 0 / 0 ]
/ Nb =even [ 9 0 / 0 ]
3LASS / EPOXY [ 9 0 / 0 ]
280.0]'- CHATTOPADHYAY ET AL[111
280.0 Nb =. even [ g 0 / 0 ] | o CHAO & LEE[10],I*"
CHATTOPDHYAY ET AL [11 ] --+--PRESENT + / - /
2400
o ~,-,HA0 8~ LEE [10] 2~0,0 ,/'j"'/
--+--I--'RE SENT A ,,.+'~" -7"~
~: _._~-,f2---~.~" y
N
-t- 200.0
200,0 O/o
¢ -=" ¢" o ~o
160.0 ~ 1B0.o ~ _ . . ~ ........
Ll.l
= 120.0 L
140.13 tr fzl
w f21
t3~ " 80.0L o o o
u.. 80.0
f ~
40.0 ~ o . o r
ONE STIFFENER I TWO STIFFENERS
J..... I i L 0 I I I I I I
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 /,,.0 5.0
ECCENTRICITY (ram) ECCENTRICITY (ram)

(ct) (b)

400,OJ
/ GLASS/ EPOXY [ 9 0 / 0 ]
360"0 r Nb= even [ 9 0 / 0 ]
|--CHATTAPADHYAY ET AL[11]
320.01- ,~o CHAU e, LEE [10].,,
--+--PR ESE NT ~,~',~
•~ 2B0.0 / ~

240.0 ~,f X .... +

~¢~ ~
~2-f_.,~='"
~~o~ o

tY
12oo - fzL___..-----"-%
9o.o~-
]
~f °
__EY!L--,--"'~-, "-- o
°L-.-+
/,O.O~L-=-=='~ o
I THREE STIFFENERS
0 [ I I I I I
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
ECCEN TR[CITY {ram)

(c)
F i g . 6. F r e q u e n c y vs. s t i f f e n e r e c c e n t r i c i t y for antisymmetric cross-ply laminate.

Example 4
Ratios of stiffened to unstiffened plate frequencies (fl 1) are obtained for various plate aspect
ratios for four-ply (90°-0°-90°-0 °) antisymmetric cross-ply laminate with two y-stiffeners (90°-0 °)
are obtained. Results are provided for different values of eccentricity in Fig. 7.
• Plate: a = 2 0 0 ram; t =3.4 mm; b/a =0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 2.5, 3.0;
• Y-stiffener: B =: 3.0 mm; e for T = 1.7, 3.4, 4.5, 6.8 mm.
158 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

1.7 I

1.5

bJ
' 1,3
(.,O0

0.5 1 I
0 I 2
b/a

Fig. 7. Frequency ratio for fll mode vs. aspect ratio of a 4-ply antisymmetric cross-ply laminate with two stiffeners.

ONE T~tl0 THREE

STIFFENER STIFFENERS STIFFENERS
2200
2000 _ CHAO AND =LEE {10] /;
PRESENT l- ,'//
-- 1800
1600
3 1400
12oo
z lOOO e~ e~ ~ .
t~
800 - - - - . . . .
c~
t~ 600
er
u_
400 f12 Ill -'~"~f22 ,.~..,..o" F f21 - ,w -
200
0
0 2 4 6 8 I0 12 2 t. 6 8 10 12 2 z, 6 i~ 10 12
ECCENTRICITY, e s (ram}

Fig. 8. Frequencies vs. stiffener eccentricity for laminate of three isotropic layers.

Example 5
N a t u r a l frequencies for simply s u p p o r t e d isotropic l a m i n a t e d plates (copper-mild steel-copper)
with one, two a n d three stiffeners ae obtained.
• Plate: a = 2 5 4 mm; b = 3 8 1 m m ; t = 2 . 5 4 m m ;
• Y-stiffener (mild steel): B = 6.35 mm; e for T = 4 , 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 mm.

Material properties of the layers are given in Table 2.

N a t u r a l frequencies vs. stiffener eccentricity for one, two a n d three stiffeners as a result of varying
depths are presented in Fig. 8.
 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 159

Table :2
Material properties of the layers

Material E(109 N/m 2) G(109 N/m 2) v p (kg/m 3)

Coper 103.4 74 0.322 8800

Mild steel 206.9 148 0.3 7860

5. Experimental investigation

Frequencies predicted by the present finite element model agree well with analytical and
numerical results. In this investigation the numerical results are supported by experimental
investigations.
Two stiffened plates made out of Perspex are used to study the frequency behaviour under free
vibration. Dimension of plate and stiffeners are as follows:

Stiffened-plate 1:
• plate: a = b = 340 mm; t = 5.5 mm;
• stiffener: B = 5.5 mm; T = 30 mm; Nsx = 7; N~y = 7,
• mass density = 1.13 g/cc; E = 0.26 x 10 l° N / m m z and v = 0.35.

Stiffened-plate 2:
• plate: a = b = 3 4 0 mm; t =4.5 mm;
• stiffener: B =4.5 mm; T = 3 0 mm; Nsx = 7; Nsy =7,
• mass density = 1.13 g/cc; E = 0.26 x 10 l° N / m m 2 and v = 0.35.

5.1. Experimental set-up and testing procedure

A square supporting flame using four I-sections is fabricated. The stiffened plate is clamped
between the top flanges of the I-sections and rigid steel plates on all sides. To absorb the vibration
at the supports, strips of leather are placed along the edges between the top flange of the supporting
frame and the stiffened plate to be tested.
The plate is excited by a mini exciter. Using the oscillator, driving frequency by the exciter is
changed gradually and the response of the stiffened plate is picked up by an accelerometer and fed
to the vibration meter. The vibration meter is connected to a spectrum analyser where output is
displaced. When the exciter frequency coincides with natural frequency of stiffened plate, resonance
occurs and a sharp rise in amplitude is observed. The frequency correspond to first such rise is the
fundamental frequency of stiffened plate. Oscillator frequency is slowly increased to obtain second
such peak. For both the peak values, m o d e shapes of the plate vibration is also checked to make
sure that these correspond to the first two modes of vibration.
Experimental results are given in Table 3.
160 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161

Table 3
Comparison of experimental results with finite element numerical results

Stiffened plate Mode frequency From experiment From finite

element model

1 1 900 900
2 2200 2190
2 1 895 888
2 2190 2190

6. Discussion

Based on this investigation, the following observations are made:

(a) No significant increase in natural frequencies with stiffener eccentricity is marked when the
stiffeners are placed on nodal lines as shown in Figs. 5(a) and 6(a).
(b) Natural frequencies obtained for specially orthotropic laminate with one, two and three even
ply stiffeners have excellent agreement [11] with coarse mesh division as indicated in Figs. 5(b), (c)
and 6(b), (c). Third and fourth mode frequencies differ marginally with Chao and Lee [-10] as shown
in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. Present element with lesser degrees of freedom predicts fundamental frequency
satisfactorily.
(c) For a stiffened rectangular laminated plate with specified dimension for one side, the
frequency ratio varies with the aspect ratio and attains a maximum value at b/a = 2 and a minimum
at b/a =0.5 as shown in Fig. 7.
(d) Experimental results compare well with numerical results. The plates were very stiff because
of closely spaced stiffeners in both directions of the plate. Energy corresponding to higher modes is
highly diminished. This explains why only two non-negligible frequency amplitudes were obtained.

7. Conclusion

Free-vibration analysis of stiffened plate is carried out in this study. The governing differential
equations of motion are obtained using Hamilton's principle. It is observed that the problem
reduces to a set of algebraic equations which are symmetric in nature. Mass and stiffness matrices
are consistently evaluated. The governing differential equations reduce to standard eigenvalue
problem yielding natural frequencies.
The natural frequencies are found for various stiffener eccentricity for specially orthotropic,
antisymmetric and multiple-ply isotropic laminates. First-mode frequencies are reasonable and
consistent with the available analytical and numerical results even with a coarse mesh.
For structural components where laminated panels are used, the vibration response can be
eliminated or reduced by changing the natural frequencies by incorporating stiffeners without
appreciable weight penalty.
 A.K. Ghosh, K.C. Biswal/Finite Elements in Analysis and Design 22 (1996) 143-161 161

In majority of cases, designers are interested to find out the first natural frequency to avoid
resonance of the structure. The use of a higher-order displacement function in the present element
gives consistent re,sults with fewer degrees of freedom. Thus, it is recommended that the present
formulation can be used to determine the first fundamental frequencies required in the design and
analysis of eccentric composite stiffened plates.

References

[1] W. Hoppmann H, N.J. Huffington and L.S. Magness, "A study of orthogonally stiffened plates", J. Appl. Mech.
Trans. ASME, 78, pp. 343-350, 1956.
[2] W. Hoppmann i[I and L.S. Magness, "Nodal patterns of the free flexural vibration of stiffened plates", J. Appl.
Mech. 24, pp. 526-530, 1957.
[3] N.J. Hutfington and W. Hoppmann II, "On the transverse vibrations of rectangular orthotropic plates", J. Appl.
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[4] C.L. Kirk, "Nat~aral frequencies of stiffened rectangular plates", J. Sound Vib. 13, pp. 323--335, 1970.
[5] T. Wah, "Vibration of stiffened plates", Aeronaut. Quart. 15, pp. 285-298, 1964.
[6] B.R. Long, "Vibration of eccentrically stiffened plates", Shock Vib. Bull. 31 (1), pp. 45-53, 1968.
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[8] G. Prathap and T.K. Varadan, "Large amplitude flexural vibration of stiffened plates", J. Sound Vib. 57 (4), pp.
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