• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.103-116
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• 2024

Based on the consistent couple stress theory (CCST), we develop a unified formulation for analyzing the static bending and free vibration behaviors of functionally graded (FG) microscale beams (MBs). The strong forms of the CCST-based Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko, and Reddy beam theories, as well as the CCST-based sinusoidal, exponential, and hyperbolic shear deformation beam theories, can be obtained by assigning some specific shape functions of the shear deformations varying through the thickness direction of the FGMBs in the unified formulation. The above theories are thus included as special cases of the unified CCST. A comparative study between the results obtained using a variety of CCST-based beam theories and those obtained using their modified couple stress theory-based counterparts is carried out. The impacts of some essential factors on the deformation, stress, and natural frequency parameters of the FGMBs are examined, including the material length-scale parameter, the aspect ratio, and the material-property gradient index.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2020

In this paper, free vibration finite element analysis of axially moving laminated composite beams subjected to axial tension is studied. It is assumed that the beam has a constant axial velocity and is subject to uniform axial tension. The analysis is based on higher-order theories that have been presented by Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). In the CUF technique, the three dimensional (3D) displacement fields are expressed as the approximation of the arbitrary order of the displacement unknowns over the cross-section. This higher-order expansion is considered in equivalent single layer (ESL) model. The governing equations of motion are obtained via Hamilton's principle. Finally, several numerical examples are presented and the effect of the ply-angle, travelling speed and axial tension on the natural frequencies and beam stability are demonstrated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.75-89
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• 2020

The current paper illustrates the effect of in-plane varying compressive force on critical buckling loads and buckling modes of sandwich composite laminated beam rested on elastic foundation. To generalize a proposed model, unified higher order shear deformation beam theories are exploited through analysis; those satisfy the parabolic variation of shear across the thickness. Therefore, there is no need for shear correction factor. Winkler and Pasternak elastic foundations are presented to consider the effect of any elastic medium surrounding beam structure. The Hamilton's principle is proposed to derive the equilibrium equations of unified sandwich composite laminated beams. Differential quadrature numerical method (DQNM) is used to discretize the differential equilibrium equations in spatial direction. After that, eigenvalue problem is solved to obtain the buckling loads and associated mode shapes. The proposed model is validated with previous published works and good matching is observed. The numerical results are carried out to show effects of axial load functions, lamination thicknesses, orthotropy and elastic foundation constants on the buckling loads and mode shapes of sandwich composite beam. This model is important in designing of aircrafts and ships when non-uniform compressive load and shear loading is dominated.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.253-271
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• 2014

A linearised buckling analysis of thin-walled beams is addressed in this paper. Beam theories formulated according to a unified approach are presented. The displacement unknown variables on the cross-section of the beam are approximated via Mac Laurin's polynomials. The governing differential equations and the boundary conditions are derived in terms of a fundamental nucleo that does not depend upon the expansion order. Classical beam theories such as Euler-Bernoulli's and Timoshenko's can be retrieved as particular cases. Slender and deep beams are investigated. Flexural, torsional and mixed buckling modes are considered. Results are assessed toward three-dimensional finite element solutions. The numerical investigations show that classical and lower-order theories are accurate for flexural buckling modes of slender beams only. When deep beams or torsional buckling modes are considered, higher-order theories are required.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.241-260
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• 2020

This article presented a comprehensive model to study static buckling stability and associated mode-shapes of higher shear deformation theories of sandwich laminated composite beam under the compression of varying axial load function. Four higher order shear deformation beam theories are considered in formulation and analysis. So, the model can consider the influence of both thick and thin beams without needing to shear correction factor. The compression force can be described through axial direction by uniform constant, linear and parabolic distribution functions. The Hamilton's principle is exploited to derive equilibrium governing equations of unified sandwich laminated beams. The governing equilibrium differential equations are transformed to algebraic system of equations by using numerical differential quadrature method (DQM). The system of equations is solved as an eigenvalue problem to get critical buckling loads and their corresponding mode-shapes. The stability of DQM in determining of buckling loads of sandwich structure is performed. The validation studies are achieved and the obtained results are matched with those. Parametric studies are presented to figure out effects of in-plane load type, sandwich thickness, fiber orientation and boundary conditions on buckling loads and mode-shapes. The present model is important in designing process of aircraft, naval structural components, and naval structural when non-uniform in-plane compressive loading is dominated.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.219-235
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• 2017

The large container ships and fast patrol boats are complex marine structures. Therefore, their global mechanical behaviour has long been modeled mostly by refined beam theories. Important issues of cross section warping and bending-torsion coupling have been addressed by introducing special functions in these theories with inherent assumptions and thus compromising their robustness. The 3D solid Finite Element (FE) models, on the other hand, are accurate enough but pose high computational cost. In this work, different marine vessel structures have been analysed using the well-known Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). According to CUF, the governing equations (and consequently the finite element arrays) are written in terms of fundamental nuclei that do not depend on the problem characteristics and the approximation order. Thus, refined models can be developed in an automatic manner. In the present work, a particular class of 1D CUF models that was initially devised for the analysis of aircraft structures has been employed for the analysis of marine structures. This class, which was called Component-Wise (CW), allows one to model complex 3D features, such as inclined hull walls, floors and girders in the form of components. Realistic ship geometries were used to demonstrate the efficacy of the CUF approach. With the same level of accuracy achieved, 1D CUF beam elements require far less number of Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) compared to a 3D solid FE solution.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.659-683
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• 2014

The static analysis of structures with arbitrary cross-section geometry and material lamination via a refined one-dimensional (1D) approach is presented in this paper. Higher-order 1D models with a variable order of expansion for the displacement field are developed on the basis of Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). Classical Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories are obtained as particular cases of the first-order model. Numerical results of displacement, strain and stress are provided by using the finite element method (FEM) along the longitudinal direction for different configurations in excellent agreement with three-dimensional (3D) finite element solutions. In particular, a layered thin-walled cylinder is considered as first assessment with a laminated conventional cross-section. An atherosclerotic plaque is introduced as a typical structure with arbitrary cross-section geometry and studied for both the homogeneous and nonhomogeneous material cases through the 1D variable kinematic models. The analyses highlight limitations of classical beam theories and the importance of higher-order terms in accurately detecting in-plane cross-section deformation without introducing additional numerical problems. Comparisons with 3D finite element solutions prove that 1D CUF provides remarkable three-dimensional accuracy in the analysis of even short and nonhomogeneous structures with arbitrary geometry through a significant reduction in computational cost.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.369-377
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• 2018

In this article, buckling and free vibration of functionally graded (FG) nanobeams resting on elastic foundation are investigated by developing various higher order beam theories which capture shear deformation influences through the thickness of the beam without the need for shear correction factors. The elastic foundation is modeled as linear Winkler springs as well as Pasternak shear layer. The material properties of FG nanobeam are supposed to change gradually along the thickness through the Mori-Tanaka model. The small scale effect is taken into consideration based on nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen. From Hamilton's principle, the nonlocal governing equations of motion are derived and then solved applying analytical solution. To verify the validity of the developed theories, the results of the present work are compared with those available in literature. The effects of shear deformation, elastic foundation, gradient index, nonlocal parameter and slenderness ratio on the buckling and free vibration behavior of FG nanobeams are studied.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.351-365
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• 2013

In this paper, unified nonlocal shear deformation theory is proposed to study bending, buckling and free vibration of nanobeams. This theory is based on the assumption that the in-plane and transverse displacements consist of bending and shear components in which the bending components do not contribute toward shear forces and, likewise, the shear components do not contribute toward bending moments. In addition, this present model is capable of capturing both small scale effect and transverse shear deformation effects of nanobeams, and does not require shear correction factors. The equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's principle. Analytical solutions for the deflection, buckling load, and natural frequency are presented for a simply supported nanobeam, and the obtained results are compared with those predicted by the nonlocal Timoshenko beam theory and Reddy beam theories.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.423-435
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• 2022

In this article, we present torsion-bending analysis of a composite FGM beam with an open section, according to the advanced and refined theory of 1D / 3D beams based on the 3D Saint-Venant's solution and taking into account the edge effects. The (initially one-dimensional) model contains a set of three-dimensional (3D) displacement modes of the cross section, reflecting its 3D mechanical behaviour. The modes are taken into account depending on the mechanical characteristics and the geometrical form of the cross-section of the composite FGM beam. The model considered is implemented on the CSB (Cross-Section and Beam Analysis) software package. It is based on the RBT/SV theory (Refined Beam Theory on Saint-Venant principle) of FGM beams. The mechanical and physical characteristics of the FGM beam continuously vary, depending on a power-law distribution, across the thickness of the beam. We compare the numerical results obtained by the three-beam theories, namely: The Classical Beam Theory of Saint-Venant (Classical Beam Theory CBT), the theory of refined beams (Refined Beam Theory RBT), and the theory of refined beams, using the higher (high) modes of distortion of the cross-section (Refined Beam Theory using distorted modes RBTd). The results obtained confirm a clear difference between those obtained by the three models at the level of the supports. Further from the support, the results of RBT and RBTd are of the same order, whereas those of CBT remains far from those of higher-order theories. The 3D stresses, strains and displacements, obtained by the present study, reflect the 3D behaviour of FGM beams well, despite the initially 1D nature of the problem. A validation example also shows a very good agreement of the proposed models with other models (classical or higher-order beam theory) and Carrera Unified Formulation 1D-beam model with Lagrange Expansion functions (CUF-LE).