Nonlinear Flexural Analysis of Laminated Composite Panel Under Hygro-Thermo-Mechanical Loading - A Micromechanical Approach

In this paper, the geometrically nonlinear transverse bending behavior of the shear deformable laminated composite spherical shell panel under hygro-thermo-mechanical loading is investigated. The laminated composite panel model has been developed mathematically based on the higher-order shear deformation theory and Green-Lagrange nonlinear strain kinematics. The material model is introduced through the micromechanical approach explicitly in terms of the matrix properties, the fiber properties, and the fiber volume fractions. Theoretical formulation is developed based on the hygrothermal dependent composite material properties to evaluate the corrugated behavior of the laminated structure. In addition to that, all the nonlinear higher-order terms arising in the strain displacement relation are included in the present formulation for accurate prediction of the flexural behavior. The desired nonlinear governing equations are obtained using the variational method and discretized with the help of suitable finite element steps. The desired responses are computed by solving the nonlinear equations numerically using the direct iterative method. The convergence behavior of the developed nonlinear numerical model has been checked and validated by comparing the responses with those available published literature. Finally, the effect of hygrothermal environment, geometrical and material parameters and the support conditions on the transverse bending behavior of the laminated composite curved shell panel have been highlighted by solving different numerical examples.