Buckling and post buckling analysis of laminated composite plates in hygrothermal environment using an Inverse Hyperbolic Shear Deformation Theory.

The present study is an attempt to develop a finite element formulation for handling buckling and post buckling analysis of laminated composite plates subjected to mechanical and hygrothermal loads using the Inverse Hyperbolic Shear Deformation Theory. This theory satisfies zero transverse shear stresses conditions at the top and bottom surfaces of the plate and provides a non-linear transverse shear stress distribution. Geometric nonlinearity has been included in the von Karman sense. Mathematical formulation and programming in MATLAB environment have been done. Numerical results are presented. By this investigation, the validation of recently developed IHSDT has been proved for buckling and post buckling analysis in hygrothermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]