Shear‐Deformable Two‐Layer Plate Theory with Interlayer Slip

Abstract

Layered plates that experience interlayer slip at a precracked interface such as a construction joint of reinforced concrete slabs or the interface of nailed wooden plates may exhibit significant stiffness degradation. In order to furnish increased simulation capability of stiffness degradation of layered plate structures, a shear‐deformable two‐layer plate theory with built‐in interlayer slip has been developed. Based upon the principle of virtual work and Reissner's mixed variational principle, well‐posed boundary‐value problems of the proposed theory are defined. The theory is tested by examining the cylindrical bending of two‐layer plates consisting of like material layers. Comparisons with the exact elasticity solution for a linear interface slip law and with the numerical result of plane‐strain finite‐element analysis for a nonlinear interface slip law indicate that the present theory accurately simulates important in‐plane responses of the plates. Also, it is observed that the interlayer slip can have a dramatic effect on the overall structural behavior and in‐plane normal stresses if the interface stiffness falls below a critical value.