Various refined theories applied to damped viscoelastic beams and circular rings

Abstract

In this work, a number of enhanced finite beam elements has been tested considering layered structures with viscoelastic layers. The viscoelastic properties have been defined with the complex modulus approach, and the equations of motion have been derived using the principle of virtual displacement. Higher-order theories, based on equivalent single-layer and the layerwise approaches, have been obtained with the Carrera unified formulation, which makes it possible to generate an infinite number of kinematic approximations. Both Lagrange-type elements and higher-order zigzag theories have been developed within the layerwise approach. On the other hand, Taylor-like expansions and Murakami-type zigzag functions have been used to conceive the equivalent single-layer models. Numerical simulations have been performed considering symmetric and asymmetric laminated structures with rectangular and circular cross sections. The results are reported in terms of frequencies, modal loss factors, and frequency responses. The obtained results have been compared with solutions published in the literature and with solid finite element models. The accuracy of the different formulations has been found to be problem dependent to a great extent.