Free vibration of thick laminated circular and annular plates using three-dimensional finite element analysis

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical analysis of free vibration of thick laminated circular plates, having free, clamped as well as simply-supported boundary conditions at outer edges. The finite element method that works on the basis of three-dimensional theory of elasticity is employed to evaluate the first ten natural frequencies of uniform circular plate. The effect of thickness ratios, fiber orientation angle (angle-ply and cross-ply), stacking sequences (symmetric and antisymmetric), radius ratios and boundary conditions on frequency parameter are discussed in detail. The first five natural modes of flexural vibrations for different boundary conditions are presented in pictorial forms. Verification of the accuracy of these results is verified by appropriate convergence study and checked with the results available in the literature. Keywords: Natural frequency, Laminated composite circular plate, Mode shape, Finite element method