Stress fields at sharp angular corners in thick anisotropic composite plates

A new three-dimensional theory to be applied to thick anisotropic plates is developed, according to which the 3D governing equations of elasticity are successfully reduced to the simultaneous solution of two uncoupled equations in the two-dimensional space. With the new theory an analytical solution for the three-dimensional stress fields in anisotropic composite plates with V-notches is presented and its degree of accuracy is discussed comparing theoretical results and numerical data from 3D FE analyses. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.