Flexural-twist coupling of anisotropic beams

Stuart Lemanski, Paul Weaver

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Flexural-twist coupling is significant in many aerospace structures. This paper investigates the flexural-twist coupling of CFRP beams of varying lay-up from experimental, simple analytical, and finite element approaches. Although the computational capability now exists to undertake dynamic analyses of large composite structures using detailed 3-dimensional finite element models, such analyses are still too time consuming for use in design optimisation. The behaviour of slender structures (such as wind turbine or helicopter rotor blades) is therefore often idealised by 1-dimensional beams with associated cross sectional stiffness (and mass) properties, in which the beam strains are related to the applied forces via a 6×6 cross sectional stiffness matrix. Flexural-twist coupling is specified by the K45 term from the cross sectional stiffness matrix. This paper clarifies the physical interpretation of K45; describes an experimental technique used to derive the flap torsion coupling of composite beams, and compares experimental results with analytical and finite element predictions.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationICCM-17 - 17th International Conference on Composite Materials
PublisherInternational Committee on Composite Materials
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameICCM International Conferences on Composite Materials

Keywords

  • Composite
  • Coupling
  • Stiffness matrix

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