Uncertain Eigenvalue Analysis of Composite Laminated Plates by the Stochastic Finite Element Method

Uncertain eigenvalue problem of linear vibration is analyzed by means of the stochastic finite element method, the basis of which utilizes mean-centered second order perturbation technique. Attention is paid to the fluctuation of the stacking sequence, that is, fiber orientation and layer thickness of FRP laminated plates. The stacking sequence is expressed in terms of probabilistic variables. The eigenvalue problem is formulated based on the Kirchhoff-Love’s theory of thin plate, the stretching, coupled and bending stiffnesses of which are uncertain due to the stacking sequence. The numerical analyses deal with the vibration of simply-supported graphite/epoxy plates. The sensitivity of the input stacking sequence and the correlation coefficients of the probabilistic variables are evaluated quantitatively.