Deformation of composite plate with two opposite edges clamped and other two edges free

Abstract

This research aimed to study the deformation of a composite plate with two opposite edges clamped and the other two edges free, subjected to a uniformly distributed load acting perpendicular to the plate. Finite element software was utilized to calculate the deflection and bending stress of the composite plate with geometric ratios from 1:1 to 5:1 and with [0]₄, [0/90]_s, [90/0]_s, and [90]₄ fiber arrangements. The study results indicated that the distributions of deflection and bending stress were similar across all geometric ratios, with the maximum deflection occurring at the center of the plate and the maximum bending stress occurring near the clamped edges. Additionally, the deflection and bending stress increased as the geometric ratios increased, due to the higher bending moment in the longer plates. The composite plates with [90]₄ fiber arrangement exhibited the highest deflection and bending stress compared to the other fiber arrangements, due to their lower axial bending stiffness and cross-sectional moment of inertia. The results of this study could serve as a guideline for designing composite structures that require controlled deflection and bending stress for appropriate engineering applications.