A new approach for finite element analysis of delaminated composite beam, allowing for fast and simple change of geometric characteristics of the delaminated area

In this work, a new approach is developed for dynamic analysis of a composite beam with an interply crack, based on finite element solution of partial differential equations with the use of the COMSOL Multiphysics package, allowing for fast and simple change of geometric characteristics of the delaminated area. The use of COMSOL Multiphysics package facilitates automatic mesh generation, which is needed if the problem has to be solved many times with different crack lengths. In the model, a physically impossible interpenetration of the crack faces is prevented by imposing a special constraint, leading to taking account of a force of contact interaction of the crack faces and to nonlinearity of the formulated boundary value problem. The model is based on the first order shear deformation theory, i.e., the longitudinal displacement is assumed to vary linearly through the beam's thickness. The shear deformation and rotary inertia terms are included into the formulation, to achieve better accuracy. Nonlinear partial differential equations of motion with boundary conditions are developed and written in the format acceptable by the COMSOL Multiphysics package. An example problem of a clamped-free beam with a piezoelectric actuator is considered, and its finite element solution is obtained. A noticeable difference of forced vibrations of the delaminated and undelaminated beams due to the contact interaction of the crack's faces is predicted by the developed model.