Simplified theory for hygrothermal response of angle-ply composite plates

A simplified four-unknown shear and normal deformation plate theory is proposed. It is used to study the response of multilayered angle-ply composite plates due to a variation in temperature and moisture concentrations. The effects of temperature and moisture concentrations on the material properties and the hygrothermal response of multilayered angle-ply composite plates are studied. A number of examples are solved to illustrate the numerical results concerning bending response of multilayered angle-ply composite plates subjected to hygrothermal effects. It is suggested that temperature-dependent and/or moisture-dependent material properties ought to be used in the analysis of laminated plates subjected to hygrothermal loads. Additional comparisons between the present theory and the classical, uniform, and parabolic shear deformation plate theories are made to show how the effect of transverse normal strain is highly significant. © 2013 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.