Abstract
A complete set of linear equations of the second-order theory of laminated composite plates are obtained. A generalized Levy type solution in conjunction with the state space concept is used to analyze the free vibration behavior of cross-ply and antisymmetric angle-ply laminated plates. Exact fundamental frequencies of cross-ply plate strips are obtained for arbitrary boundary conditions. The exact analytical solutions are obtained for thick and moderately thick plates as well as for thin plates and plate strips. It is shown that the results of the second-order theory are very close to the results of the first-order and third-order theories reported in the literature, and different from those of the classical Kirchhoff’s theory for thick laminates.