Buckling and free vibration analyses of laminated composite plates by using two new hyperbolic shear-deformation theories

Two new hyperbolic displacement models, HPSDT1 and HPSDT2, are used for the buckling and free vibration analyses of simply supported orthotropic laminated composite plates. The models contain hyperbolic expressions to account for the parabolic distributions of transverse shear stresses and to satisfy the zero shear-stress conditions at the top and bottom surfaces of the plates. The equation of motion for thick laminated rectangular plates subjected to in-plane loads is deduced through the use of Hamilton’s principle. Closed-form solutions are obtained by using the Navier technique, and then the buckling loads and the fundamental frequencies are found by solving eigenvalue problems. The accuracy of the models presented is demonstrated by comparing the results obtained with solutions of other higher-order models given in the literature. It is found that the theories proposed can predict the fundamental frequencies and buckling loads of cross-ply laminated composite plates rather accurately.