Nonlinear theory of multilayer sandwich shells and its application. I. General theory (Q1369401)

This paper presents a refined nonlinear analysis of multiple sandwhich composite shells with transverse shear deformations. Different levels of approximation are developed according to a small parameter \(\varepsilon\) which takes account of relative dimensionless coefficients of the middle surface (thickness, radii of curvature, etc.), such that for small strains one can propose the following classification: (a) \(\Phi_\alpha (\varepsilon)=O(\varepsilon^2)\), \(\Phi(\varepsilon) =O(\varepsilon^2)\) (small rotations); (b) \(\Phi_\alpha (\varepsilon) =O(\varepsilon)\), \(\Phi (\varepsilon)= O(\varepsilon^2)\) (moderate/small rotations); (c) \(\Phi_\alpha (\varepsilon)= O(\varepsilon)\), \(\Phi(\varepsilon)= O(\varepsilon)\) (moderate rotations), where \(\Phi_\alpha\) means the surface strains, and \(\Phi\) the normal ones. The paper provides detailed formulae for small strains and moderate rotations, and continuity conditions for normal displacements in different layers. The constitutive equations are given for linear orthotropic elasticity in three dimensions, adapted for shell analysis, such that transverse shear and normal stresses are neglected. The surface stresses are obtained through an integration with respect to the thickness of different layers, thus giving global deformations obtained by summation of all the layers. In this way, the whole calculus provides rather complicated formulae for global energies. (Note that the correct non-symmetric flexion stresses are written due to the presence of transverse shear strains.) Additionally, the resultant variational principle provides the shell equilibrium equations and the boundary conditions. The last section considers a simplified theory for moderate or moderate/small rotations, and gives simple formulae to case (b) above, which is the simplest geometric nonlinear theory of shells and is widely used in practice. Applications will be presented in part II.