Analysis of Thin-Walled Composite Beams with Arbitrary Layup

Abstract

A beam theory for open and closed section, thin-walled, composite beams is presented. The layup of each wall segment is arbitrary, the effects of shear deformation and restrained warping are neglected. Closed form expressions are developed for the calculation of the 4×4 stiffness matrix. It is also shown that the local bending stiffnesses of the wall segments may be neglected when the laminate is either symmetrical or orthotropic.

Flexural–torsional behavior of thin-walled composite beams

“…It is seen that the results of the present finite element analysis for plane stress are in good agreement with the solution in Ref. [7].…”

“…Jeon et al [6] developed an analysis model of large deflection for the static and dynamic analysis of composite box beams. Kollar and Pluzsik [7] presented a beam theory for thin-walled open and closed section composite beams with arbitrary layups which neglects the effect of restrained warping and transverse shear deformation, and developed expressions for the stiffness matrix. Salim and Davalos [9] presented the linear analysis of open and closed sections made of general laminated composites by extending Gjelsvic's model [2].…”

Geometrically nonlinear analysis of thin-walled laminated composite beams

“…Since the focus of this work is closed sections and based on the results and conclusions of Volovoi et al (2001); Pluzsik and Kollar (2002), the approach proposed by Kollar and Pluzsik (2002) is used to predict the constitutive matrix. Kollar and Pluzsik (2002) proposed a general theory to analyze thin-walled laminated beams and presented analytical expressions for constitutive matrix v C for open and closed sections. Considering a closed section, the beam's wall consists of N flat segments each one may be made of several layers of composite materials with arbitrary layup (Figure 2).…”

“…In order to analyze thin-walled closed section composite beams, Kollar and Pluzsik (2002) define the following five steps that must be done: 1. The strains in each segment of the beam cross-section are related to the axial strain, curvatures and twist of the longitudinal beam axis through kinematic hypothesis and plate theory.…”

“…The finite element uses the Total Lagrangian formulation in order to allow the treatment of large displacements, but with moderated rotations. In this formulation, the constitutive matrix of the laminated beams is evaluated through the Kollar and Pluzsik (2002) theory. In this theory, the effects of the couplings for several layups are considered, but the effects of the warping and transverse shear are neglected.…”