• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.457-471
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• 2016

To analyze laminated composite and sandwich beams under temperature loads, a $C^0$-type Reddy's beam theory considering transverse normal strain is proposed in this paper. Although transverse normal strain is taken into account, the number of unknowns is not increased. Moreover, the first derivatives of transverse displacement have been taken out from the in-plane displacement fields, so that the $C^0$ interpolation functions are only required for the finite element implementation. Based on the proposed model, a three-node beam element is presented for analysis of thermal responses. Numerical results show that the proposed model can accurately and efficiently analyze the thermoelastic problems of laminated composites.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.299-308
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• 2020

This study aims to carry out the experimental and numerical investigation on the flexural behavior of sandwich honeycomb composite (SHC) beams reinforced with novel triaxially woven fabric composite skins. Different stacking sequences of the carbon fiber reinforcement polymer (CFRP) laminate; i.e., 0°-direction of TW (TW0), 0°-direction of UD (UD0), and 90°-direction of UD (UD90) were studied, from which the flexural behavior of SHC beam behaviors reinforced with TW0/UD0 or TW0/UD90 novel laminated skins were compared with those reinforced with UD0/90 conventional laminated skins under four-point loading. Generally, TW0/UD0 SHC beams displayed the same flexural stiffness as UD0/90 SHC beams in terms of load-deflection relationships. In contrast, TW0/UD90 SHC beams showed a 70% lower efficiency than those of UD0/90 SHC. Hence, the TW0/UD0 laminate arrangement is more effective with a mass reduction of 39% compared with UD0/90 for SHC beams, although their stiffness and shear strength are practically identical.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.241-260
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• 2020

This article presented a comprehensive model to study static buckling stability and associated mode-shapes of higher shear deformation theories of sandwich laminated composite beam under the compression of varying axial load function. Four higher order shear deformation beam theories are considered in formulation and analysis. So, the model can consider the influence of both thick and thin beams without needing to shear correction factor. The compression force can be described through axial direction by uniform constant, linear and parabolic distribution functions. The Hamilton's principle is exploited to derive equilibrium governing equations of unified sandwich laminated beams. The governing equilibrium differential equations are transformed to algebraic system of equations by using numerical differential quadrature method (DQM). The system of equations is solved as an eigenvalue problem to get critical buckling loads and their corresponding mode-shapes. The stability of DQM in determining of buckling loads of sandwich structure is performed. The validation studies are achieved and the obtained results are matched with those. Parametric studies are presented to figure out effects of in-plane load type, sandwich thickness, fiber orientation and boundary conditions on buckling loads and mode-shapes. The present model is important in designing process of aircraft, naval structural components, and naval structural when non-uniform in-plane compressive loading is dominated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.75-89
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• 2020

The current paper illustrates the effect of in-plane varying compressive force on critical buckling loads and buckling modes of sandwich composite laminated beam rested on elastic foundation. To generalize a proposed model, unified higher order shear deformation beam theories are exploited through analysis; those satisfy the parabolic variation of shear across the thickness. Therefore, there is no need for shear correction factor. Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundations are presented to consider the effect of any elastic medium surrounding beam structure. The Hamilton's principle is proposed to derive the equilibrium equations of unified sandwich composite laminated beams. Differential quadrature numerical method (DQNM) is used to discretize the differential equilibrium equations in spatial direction. After that, eigenvalue problem is solved to obtain the buckling loads and associated mode shapes. The proposed model is validated with previous published works and good matching is observed. The numerical results are carried out to show effects of axial load functions, lamination thicknesses, orthotropy and elastic foundation constants on the buckling loads and mode shapes of sandwich composite beam. This model is important in designing of aircrafts and ships when non-uniform compressive load and shear loading is dominated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.471-488
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• 2012

An efficient one dimensional finite element model has been presented for the dynamic analysis of composite laminated beams, using the efficient layerwise zigzag theory. To meet the convergence requirements for the weak integral formulation, cubic Hermite interpolation is used for the transverse displacement ($w_0$), and linear interpolation is used for the axial displacement ($u_0$) and shear rotation (${\psi}_0$). Each node of an element has four degrees of freedom. The expressions of variationally consistent inertia, stiffness matrices and the load vector are derived in closed form using exact integration. The formulation is validated by comparing the results with the 2D-FE results for composite symmetric and sandwich beams with various end conditions. The employed finite element model is free of shear locking. The present zigzag finite element results for natural frequencies, mode shapes of cantilever and clamped-clamped beams are obtained with a one-dimensional finite element codes developed in MATLAB. These 1D-FE results for cantilever and clamped beams are compared with the 2D-FE results obtained using ABAQUS to show the accuracy of the developed MATLAB code, for zigzag theory for these boundary conditions. This comparison establishes the accuracy of zigzag finite element analysis for dynamic response under given boundary conditions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.273-283
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• 2018

Nonlinear low velocity impact response of sandwich beam with laminated composite face sheets and soft core is studied based on Extended High Order Sandwich Panel Theory (EHSAPT). The face sheets follow the Third order shear deformation beam theory (TSDT) that has hitherto not reported in conventional EHSAPT. Besides, the two dimensional elasticity is used for the core. The nonlinear Von Karman type relations for strains of face sheets and the core are adopted. Contact force between the impactor and the beam is obtained using the modified Hertz law. The field equations are derived via the Ritz based applied to the total energy of the system. The solution is obtained in the time domain by implementing the well-known Runge-Kutta method. The effects of boundary conditions, core-to-face sheet thickness ratio, initial velocity of the impactor, the impactor mass and position of the impactor are studied in detail. It is found that each of these parameters have significant effect on the impact characteristics which should be considered. Finally, some low velocity impact tests have been carried out by Drop Hammer Testing Machine. The contact force histories predicted by EHSAPT are in good agreement with that obtained by experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.105-117
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• 2022

Impact resistance efficiency of the newly designed sandwich beam with a laterally arched core as bio-inspired by the woodpecker is numerically investigated. The principal components of the beam comprise a dual-core system sandwiched by the top and bottom laminated CFRP skins. Different materials, including hot melt adhesive, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), epoxy resin (EPON862), aluminum (Al6061), and mild carbon steel (AISI1018), are considered for the side-arched core layer of the beam for impact efficiency assessment. The aluminum honeycomb takes the role of the second core. Contact force, stress, damage formation, and impact energy for beams equipped with different materials are examined. A diversity in performance superiority is noticed in each of these indicators for different core materials. Therefore, for overall performance appraisal, the impact resistance efficiency index, which covers several chief impact performance parameters, of each sandwich beam is computed and compared. The impact resistance efficiency index of the structure equipped with the AISI1018 core is found to be the highest, about 3-10 times greater than other specimens, thus demonstrating its efficacy as the optimal material for the bio-inspired dual-core sandwich beam system.