Nonlinear vibrations, bifurcations and chaos of lattice sandwich composite panels on Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundations with thermal effects in supersonic airflow

Abstract

This paper is devoted to investigate the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of lattice sandwich composite panels resting on Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundations under simultaneous aerodynamic and thermal loads in supersonic airflow. The first-order shear deformation and von Karman large deflection theories are applied in the structural modeling. The supersonic piston theory is used to model the aerodynamic pressure acting on the lattice sandwich composite panel. The equation of motion of the structure is established by Hamilton’s principle with the assumed mode method. The nonlinear vibration responses of the lattice sandwich composite panel under different aerodynamic pressures are computed. In addition, the influences of several significant parameters including the ply angle of laminated face sheets, elastic foundation parameters, aerodynamic pressure and temperature change on the nonlinear aerothermoelastic characteristics and the route to chaos for the lattice sandwich composite panel are investigated. Time histories, phase maps, Poincare plots and fast Fourier transform frequency spectra are presented to identify the periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic motions.