Exact Solution of Shear Flexible Laminated Curved Beams Using a Coupled Field Formulation

Abstract

The exact static solutions of shear flexible laminated curved beams are derived using a coupled field formulation. The formulation developed in this paper can be generalized to analyze isotropic and laminated curved beams. The governing equations are first derived in terms of forces or stress resultants. The spatial distribution of radial shear, tangential force, and bending moment along the arc length of the beam are derived in closed form. The displacements are then integrated exactly using the constitutive equations. Several examples of isotropic and laminated curved beams are solved and compared with available solutions.