Nonlinear vibration characteristics of composite pyramidal truss sandwich cylindrical shell panels with amplitude dependence

Abstract

Recently studies on the bending, compression, buckling, and other static issues of composite pyramidal truss sandwich cylindrical shell (CPTSCS) panels have been reported. However, rare literature has explored the nonlinear vibration characteristics of the CPTSCS panels. In this paper, their amplitude-dependent vibration properties are studied both experimentally and theoretically. First, a fabrication flowchart is proposed to obtain such panel specimens, and a pulse excitation method via a hammer and sweeping frequency and fixed excitation techniques provided by a base vibration shaker are employed to measure the nonlinear variation of vibration parameters. As a result, the amplitude-dependent vibration phenomenon is confirmed to exist in both the pyramidal truss core and composite skins. After the nonlinear assumptions of Young's moduli, shear moduli, and loss factors of the pyramidal truss core and composite skins are defined based on Jones-Nelson nonlinear material theory, complex modulus method, Gibson equivalent principle, etc., a novel theoretical model is developed to predict the nonlinear natural frequencies, damping ratios, and resonant responses under different base excitation energies, in which the first order shear deformation theory, Rayleigh Ritz variation method, modal strain energy approach, and modal superposition technique are adopted to solve key vibration parameters. The pre-defined amplitude-dependent fitting coefficients that are vital to the completeness of the current model are further identified using the measured frequency and damping data. Also, detailed tests are done to make sure that both the proposed model and the predictions are correct. Finally, the effects of critical geometric and material parameters of the CPTSCS panels on the amplitude-dependent vibration characteristics are evaluated based on the calculated dynamic results, with some practical suggestions being refined for improving the vibration suppression capability of such advanced composite structures.