Rayleigh-Ritz vibration analysis of moderately thick composite laminated plates based on a first-order shear deformation lamination theory

Based on the first-order shear deformation lamination theory (FSDLT), the natural vibration of the moderately thick rectangular laminated plate with general boundary conditions is analyzed in this paper. Euler's motion equations associated with the present FSDLT are derived by the Hamilton's principle. In addition, Rayleigh-Ritz technique is employed on the numerical analysis by expanding the displacements as a set of completely power polynomials satisfying the appropriate geometric boundary conditions. The results obtained are comparied with their classical results to justify the necessity and reasonableness of using the present FSDLT in such analysis.