Dynamic Responses of Composite Structures in Contact with Water While Subjected to Harmonic Loads

Abstract

Composite ship hull structures are in contact with water on the external surfaces and may support vibrating equipment on the internal surfaces. This study examined how the Fluid-structure Interaction (FSI) coupled with the harmonic excitation could affect the composite structural response. A multiphysics computational technique based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Cellular Automata (CA) was developed and applied for this research. A comparison was made on the structural responses with and without FSI for composite beams and plates. Furthermore, metallic structures made of either aluminum or steel were also compared to composite structures to investigate the effect of the coupled FSI and a harmonically vibrating machine. The study showed that FSI could magnify the displacement and stress level in composite structures supporting harmonically vibrating equipment. Analysis of composite structures supporting such equipment without considering the FSI effect would result in non-conservative design leading to pre-mature failure. A parametric study was conducted to determine what parameter could signify the FSI effect on composite structures.