Multilayer beams: A geometrically exact formulation (Q1920976)

The authors review and extend the dynamics of geometrically-exact sandwich structures to the theory of multilayer structures, with particular emphasis on sandwiched beams. Fully nonlinear equations of motion are presented, followed by approximate equations of motion for two cases: (i) the case where the difference between the outer-layer rotations and the core-layer rotation is infinitesimal; (ii) the case where all rotations are infinitesimal. A Galerkin projection of the governing equations of equilibrium of the new theory is also presented. Some additional results are provided. The starting point for the development of the Galerkin projection of nonlinear governing equations of motion is their weak form based on the balance of stress power of the sandwiched beam, from which expressions for fully nonlinear strain measures are obtained. Linear and quadratic finite element basis functions are chosen to form a basis for the Galerkin projection of the linearized equilibrium equations into a finite-dimensional space of trial solutions. The symmetric tangent stiffness matrix is evaluated using uniformly reduced integration in all layers in order to avoid shear locking. Several numerical examples, including the roll-up maneuver of a sandwiched beam with the equivalent single-layer beams, are given to verify the correctness of the present formulation and to illustrate its salient features.