Description is given of a versatile spline finite strip method for analysing the geometrically non-linear response of rectangular, composite laminated plates of arbitrary lay-up to progressive end shortening in their plane. The plates are assumed to be thin, thus allowing the analysis to be based on the use of classical plate theory, and the non-linearity is introduced in the strain-displacement equations in the manner of the von Karman assumptions. A number of finite strip models have been developed but attention is concentrated on a particular model whose displacement field uses cubic B-splines longitudinally and quadratic crosswise interpolation of the in-plane displacements. Description is given of the use of this model in applications involving plates which have simply supported ends and which either are made of homogeneous, isotropic material or are laminates with unbalanced cross-ply or angle ply lamination.
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