Shear stress correction factors in hybrid composite material beams

Abstract

Values of the static shear stress correction factors, k1, for hybrid, fiber-reinforced composite beams are calculated using a mechanics of materials approach developed by Bert [1]. These values of k1 are input into the deflection relationships resulting from classical laminated plate theory, which has been extended by Whitney [2] to account for transverse shear deformation effects, and modified to model the deflection of beams under three-point bending [3]. The resulting calculated deflections and strain energies are found not to agree with experimental values reported in ref. 3. It is hypothesized that the discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental values of the shear stress correction factors, the deformations, and the strain energies, may be the result of stress concentrations at the loading and support points of the beam.