SUMMARYMindlin-type plate and shell finite elements are the most widely used ones in the analysis of laminated composite structures. In the commercially available finite element programs, the transverse shear correction factors for these elements are usually the same as for structures made of isotropic materials. In the paper the shear correction factors are determined using energy principles for general laminates in cylindrical bending. Results for various materials and laminates are presented.

The bending of a thick composite plate is studied by using a 2-d plate element with a stiffness matrix derived by a 3-d solid model for a typical element. Constraint equations are used to ensure full displacement continuity between adjacent plate elements. After solving the global behaviour by 2-d elements the local behaviour is studied by using the 3-d model of the typical element. The approach is verified by comparing the full 3-d stress state obtained with an available analytical solution.