C0 Reissner-Mindlin Multilayered Plate Elements Including Zig-Zag and Interlaminar Stress Continuity

Concerning composites plate theories and FEM (Finite Element Method) applications this paper presents some multilayered plate elements which meet computational requirements and include both the zig-zag distribution along the thickness co-ordinate of the in-plane displacements and the interlaminar continuity (equilibrium) for the transverse shear stresses. This is viewed as the extension to multilayered structures of well-known C0 Reissner–Mindlin finite plate elements. Two different fields along the plate thickness co-ordinate are assumed for the transverse shear stresses and for the displacements, respectively. In order to eliminate stress unknowns, reference is made to a Reissner mixed variational theorem. Sample tests have shown that the proposed elements, named RMZC, numerically work as the standard Reissner–Mindlin ones. Furthermore, comparisons with other results related to available higher-order shear deformation theories and to three-dimensional solutions have demonstrated the good performance of the RMZC elements.