The Nonlinear Behaviors of a Symmetric Isotropic Laminate in a Mixed Boundary Condition Subject to an Arbitrary Thermal Field Coupled with Mechanical Loading

Abstract

This paper investigates the nonlinear dynamics of a symmetric isotropic rectangular laminated structure by using the method of weighted residuals with total energy conservation. We obtain the equation of motion in a decoupled form Duffing equation for the laminate deflection subject to both thermal and mechanical loading while confined in a mixed boundary condition of simply supported and clamped edges at the boundaries. The Duffing equation incorporates both the steady-state and transient state for the in-plane and transverse thermal fields, which allows for investigation of the thermal field influence on the laminate buckling and vibration behaviors.