Dynamic responses of composite structures coupled through fluid medium

Abstract

Dynamic analysis was conducted for two flexible composite structures coupled by a fluid medium. As the dynamic loading is applied to one structure, the other structure responds to the dynamic loading resulting from the load transfer through the fluid medium. To investigate such a coupled interaction between two structures, both experimental and numerical studies were conducted to supplement each other. First, a series of experiments were undertaken for two separate composite plates. In the designed test setup, water was filled between two composite plates. The water level between the two plates was varied and strain gages were attached to the composite plates. An impact load was applied to the front composite plate, and the dynamic responses of the both plates were measured using the strain gages. The cellular automata (CA) technique was also used for the numerical study. The results showed that the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) played an important role for the structural coupling depending on the water level between the plates.