Thermoelastic analysis of a laminated composite skew plate with a circular cutout subjected to linearly varying temperature across the thickness

The behaviour of a laminated composite skew plate with hole subjected to temperature as well as combined temperature and transverse pressure loading has been investigated. A finite element method which works on the basis of three-dimensional theory of elasticity is employed to evaluate the transverse deflection, in-plane stresses and interlaminar stresses. The results obtained by varying the skew angle and the hole diameter are discussed. It has been observed that the magnitude of the stresses and deflection in case of combined loading is more when compared with the respective values in case of pure thermal loading. The magnitudes of the transverse deflection and in-plane stresses for combined loading are observed to be less at higher skew angles, because the distance between opposite sides of the plate decreases with increase in skew angle causing for increase in the stiffness of the plate. The solutions of skew structures considered in the present analysis will be useful for the construction of safe and efficient structures like skew bridges and swept wings of aircraft structures.