Stability of multilayered composite plates

Abstract Quantitative assessment is made of the accuracy and range of validity of the classical and shear-deformation plate theories when applied to the stability analysis of multi-layered composite plates with large numbers of layers. The standard of comparison is taken to be the linear three-dimensional theory of orthotropic elasticity. In the shear-deformation theory, the composite correction are included and are shown to result in close agreement with three-dimensional elasticity solutions for a wide range of lamination and geometric parameters.