The Deflection of Rotating Composite Tapered Beams with an Elastically Restrained Root in Hygrothermal Environment

Abstract

Abstract This article aims to study the static deflection of a rotating composite Timoshenko beam subjected to the laterally distributed load and restrained by the elastic root and affected by the various cross-section, installation mode, and hygrothermal environment. The governing equation is established according to the force equilibrium condition and solved by a semianalytical power series solution. To verify the correctness, the results of differential quadrature method are introduced to make a comparison. Then, several parameters that can affect the static deflection of the beam, such as the rotating speed, temperature variation, elastic root, and so on, are investigated. Results indicate that (1) pitch angle, rotating speed, and hub radius can result in the centrifugal stiffening effect; (2) setting angle, fibre orientation angle, taper ratio, and elastic root affect the static deflection by changing the rigidity of the rotating composite tapered beam; and (3) temperature variation and moisture concentration can cause the expansion deformation and the change of material properties.