Finite element formulation of laminated beams with capability to model the thickness expansion

This paper presents a static analysis of laminated beams by using a 6 degree-of–freedom hybrid type quasi-3D higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT). The governing equations are derived by employing the principle of virtual work and solved by means of Hermite-Lagrangian finite element method for laminated beams with several boundary conditions. A mixed interpolation, C1 cubic Hermite and a C0 linear Lagrange interpolation are used for the...