Structural analysis of FRP laminate with triangle convexities (FLTC) using the VAM-based equivalent model

Abstract

To comprehensively study the static and dynamic behaviors of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates with triangle convexities (FLTC) under different boundary conditions and avoid structural damage, an equivalent model of the FLTC was developed based on the variational asymptotic method. A constitutive model of the unit cell was developed to obtain the constitutive relations that could be used as effective plate properties of the two-dimensional equivalent plate model (2D-EPM). The accuracy of the equivalent model and the obtained equivalent stiffness were verified by comparing with the global displacement, buckling modes, critical loads, free-vibration modes, and frequencies of a three-dimensional finite element model (3D-FEM). The influence of different layup configurations, structural arrangements and geometric parameters on the effective performance of the FLTC are discussed. The results showed that the critical load and natural frequencies obtained using the equivalent model were in good agreement with those obtained from the 3D-FEM, and the local field distributions within the unit cell of the FLTC were well captured. The free vibration and global buckling of the FLTC were closely related to the geometric sizes and layup configurations. Most importantly, the calculation efficiency was greatly improved. The research results provide a reference for the practical application of the FLTC in civil engineering.