An analytical solution for cross-ply laminates under cylindrical bending based on through-the-thickness inextensibility. Part I—Static loading

response of cross-ply laminated plates under eyfindrical and/or planar bending is examined. A novel method, based on the assumption of inextensibility of the plate through the thickness, is introduced. The solution for a plate with simple supports at two ends is obtained. The numerical results for several cases are presented. Displacement and stresses obtained by the introduced method agree very well with the exact elasticity solution. The presented method, in addition to its simplicity in comparison with the exact solution, has the capability of being used for dynamic problems. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.