The response of a grooved plate subjected to out-of-plane contact loading is examined. The influence of selected geometric and loading parameters are investigated, as well as the effects of various boundary conditions. The response of a laminated grooved plate with a quasi -isotropic layup of [0/ + 45/ - 45/90]15s is examined and compared to the response of an isotropic structure. Finite element analysis employing two-dimensional and three-dimensional models is utilized for this investigation via ABAQUS software, a commercial finite element modeling program. The results show that the overall response of a grooved plate subjected to out-of-plane contact loading is a product of three key items: a global response due to the overall structural configuration and global aspect of the applied loading; a local response due to the removal of material to create the groove; and a local response due to the specifics of the introduction of the loading. The global response is affected by the boundary conditions due to their influence on the internal resultant loadings (moment and shear in this case) that develop within the structure. The removal of material to create the groove causes local stress concentrations via two mechanisms: the local decrease in total plate thickness beneath the groove, and the transmission of stresses occurring near the upper plate surface around the geometric discontinuity of the groove. The latter effect is analogous to that of a through-thickness hole within a plate. The local response due to the specifics of the load introduction is unaffected by the geometric and loading parameters examined, provided that finite size issues do not influence the details of the load introduction. The loading and boundary conditions also cause the groove to change overall shape, drawing together the left and right halves of the groove surface. The total thickness beneath the groove is determined to be a key parameter affecting the response of a grooved plate. Two-dimensional models are generally able to accurately simulate the response of a three-dimensional structure except within one-half plate thickness of the free surface, where three-dimensional models are necessary.
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