• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.442-449
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• 2009

A two-dimensional cross-section analysis program based on the finite element method has been developed for composite blades with solid, thin-walled and compound cross-sections. The weighted-modulus method is introduced to determine the laminated composite material properties. The shear center and the torsion constant for any given section are calculated according to the Trefftz' definition and the St. Venant torsion theory, respectively. The singular value problem of cross-section stiffness properties faced during the section analysis has been solved by performing an eigenvalue analysis to remove the rigid body mode. Numerical results showing the accuracy of the program obtained for stiffness, offset and inertia properties are compared in this analysis. The current analysis results are validated with those obtained by commercial software and published data available in the literature and a good correlation has generally been achieved through a series of validation study.