A four noded plate element based on a refined higher order shear deformation theory is developed for the analysis of composite and sandwich plates. This plate theory satisfies the conditions of inter-laminar shear stress continuity and stress free top and bottom surfaces of the plate. Moreover, the number of independent unknowns is the same as that in the first order shear deformation theory. The inter-elemental continuity, as desired by the plate theory, is fully satisfied in the present element. Numerical examples of composite and sandwich plates are solved to validate the element. Some new results are also presented.
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