Bending Analysis of Sandwich Plate Under Concentrated Force Using Quasi-Three-Dimensional Theory

This study presents the quasi-three-dimensional, higher-order shear-deformation theory for the stress and displacement analysis of sandwich plate subjected to concentrated force. Using expansion of thickness coordinate in the displacement field, the effects of both transverse shear and normal deformations are included. The theory satisfies the zero shear stress conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of sandwich plate. Hence, the shear correction factor is not required, generally associated with the First order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The boundary-value problem of the theory is derived using the principle of virtual work. Transverse shear and normal stresses are recovered from the stress-equilibrium equations of the theory of elasticity, and the continuity condition is satisfied at the interface between layers and stress boundary condition at the external surfaces. In addition, this study provides the effects of transverse normal strain on flexural response of sandwich plate. Closed-form solutions for simply supported sandwich plate subjected to concentrated force are obtained for various side-to-thickness ratios. The results of the present theory are compared with third-order shear and normal deformation theory, first-order shear-deformation theory, and the classical plate theory. The inclusion of the effect of transverse normal strain in the theory showed significant deviations in displacements and stresses.