Lightweight sandwich and composite beam analysis using improved higher-order theory with respect to strain energy fidelity in ply-wise approach

ABSTRACT

This approach present improved higher-order layer-wise theory for the investigation of flawlessly wedged sandwich-composite beams with general laminate configurations. Our analysis incorporates the continuity assumption of interlaminar shear stresses and in-plane and flexural displacements between interfaces. In addition, interlaminar shear stresses are constrained using the Lagrange multiplier technique by introducing new unknown variables. These unknown variables are expressed with interlaminar strain energy, assuming that the strain energy is continuous throughout the overall thickness of the beam. To govern the newly introduced and other unknown variables, the total potential energy (TPE) is minimised using variational calculus. The numerical analysis results show that our approach provides enhanced accuracy to examine sandwich-composite beams.

KEYWORDS:

• Interlaminar
• constraint
• strain energy
• tpe
• Lagrange

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIIDE.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Temesgen Takele Kasa

Temesgen Takele Kasa graduated from Pukyong National University on Feb 22,2019, with Ph.D., degree in Mechanical Engineering ,Busan-South Korea. After graduation he is an Assistant professor in Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia. Currently, he is in USA as a guest researcher. His research interest includes Composite structures, Smart materials, FEM, Atomistic computer modeling of materials and advanced manufacturing.