Free vibration and reliability of composite cantilevers featuring uncertain properties

Abstract

The problem of free vibration and reliability of cantilever composite beams featuring structural uncertainties is analyzed. The random structural uncertainties involve material properties, thickness and fiber orientation of the individual constituent laminae. Such uncertainties undoubtedly affect the achievable performance as well as their structural reliabilities. In order to investigate the effects of random structural uncertainties on free vibration problem, a stochastic eigenvalue problem of self-adjoint systems is formulated to provide first and second moments of eigenvalues, i.e., their mean and variance. In this context, a stochastic finite element method based on the mean-centered-second-moment method and first-order perturbation technique are employed during the probabilistic discretization of uncertain distributed-parameter structural systems. Sensitivity and reliability analyses for the uncertain beam when subjected to an external oscillatory load are performed. In addition, in order to mitigate the detrimental effects of uncertainties and so, to render the structure more robust to such effects, the structural tailoring technique is implemented and its beneficial effects are revealed.