Layered Membrane
In order to model very thin laminates with low bending stiffness, the Equivalent Single Layer theory can be extended to the membrane elements. One of the applications of the layered membrane is in the modeling of acoustic devices.
In COMSOL Multiphysics, very thin laminates are analyzed using the equivalent single layer theory through the Linear Elastic Material, Layered in the Membrane interface. This material model is a membrane version, with zero bending and shear energies, of the Linear Elastic Material, Layered material model in the Shell interface, which is based on the First Order Shear Deformation theory.