Daniel Rodrigues - INEGI – Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Jorge Belinha - School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP)
Renato Natal Jorge - Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP), Department of Mechanical Engineering

The bending analysis of composite structures is usually performed using the Finite Element Method (FEM), which is also used in many fields of engineering. However, other efficient, accurate, and robust numerical methods can be alternatives to FEM’s widespread use. This work focus on a meshless discretization technique - the Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM) – which only requires an unstructured nodal distribution to discretize the problem domain. The numerical integration of the Galerkin weak form governing the plate’s bending problem is performed using a background integration mesh. The nodal connectivity is enforced using the ‘influence-domain’ concept which is based on a radial search of nodes closer to an integration point. Thus, in this work, the RPIM is used to analyse the bending behaviour of symmetric cross-ply composite laminated plates using equivalent single layer (ESL) formulations, following different transverse high-order shear deformation theories (HSDTs). Varying the plate’s geometry and stacking sequences, the applied loads, or the plate model, several composite laminated plates are analysed. In the end, the meshless solutions are compared with analytical solutions available in the literature. The accuracy of the meshless approach is proved and several new numerical solutions for the bending of symmetric laminates are proposed.

Symmetric Laminated Plates, High-Order Shear Deformation Theories, Meshless method, Radial Point Interpolation Method (RPIM)