Hygrothermal-induced dynamic behavior of stratified composite plates based on mindlin-reissner analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the vibration analysis of stratified composite plates of constant thickness subjected to hygrothermal effects. The analysis considers the impact of temperature and moisture variations on the material properties and structural response of stratified composite plates. Governing equations are derived using Mindlin-Reissner Theory (MRT) to capture transverse shear effects accurately. The hygrothermal effects are incorporated into the constitutive equations through temperature- and moisture-dependent material properties, leading to a coupled thermo-mechanical model. A numerical approach, such as the spline approximation method, is employed to analyse the frequencies and mode shapes under various edge conditions. The results indicate that increased temperature and moisture content reduce the stiffness of the stratified composite plates, leading to a decrease in natural frequencies. Additionally, the influence of material alignment, assembling sequence, and boundary conditions on the vibrational response is examined. The findings provide critical intuitions into the design and reliability of stratified composite structures exposed to varying environmental conditions, such as in aerospace, marine, and automotive applications.