Flexural analysis of thin-walled laminated composite beams with arbitrary open sections and shear influence

Abstract

Analytic model for the flexural analysis of thin-walled laminated composite beams with arbitrary open sections and shear influence is presented. Model is based on general Vlasov’s theory of thin-walled beams of open sections, as well as on Timoshenko’s beam bending theory. The shear strain in the beam middle surface is taken into analysis, i.e. the out-of-plane warping of the cross-section due to shear. Analytic expressions for the stresses and displacements with the shear influence are derived in closed analytic form. Beams subjected to general transverse load reduced to principal pole are considered. The influence of shear deformations and fiber angle on stress and displacement distributions is investigated. Beams with different height-to-span ratios and different boundary conditions are analyzed. The accuracy of the presented model is verified by comparing the results with the finite element solutions utilizing shell elements, as well as with the results from the available literature. Very good agreement between analytical and numerical results is obtained.