On the micromechanics theory of Reissner-Mindlin plates

A micromechanics model is developed for the Reissner-Mindlin plate. A generalized eigenstrain formulation, i.e., an eigencurvature/eigen-rotation formulation, is proposed, which is the analogue or counterpart of the eigenstrain formulation in linear elasticity. The micromechanics model of the Reissner-Mindlin plate is useful in the study of mechanical behavior of composite plates that contain randomly distributed inhomogeneities, whose sizes are close to the order of thickness of the plate; under those circumstances, the use of micromechanics of linear elasticity is not justified, and moreover, it is inconsistent with structural theories, such as the Reissner-Mindlin plate theory, that are actually used in engineering design.