Nonlinear analysis of beams of variable cross section,including shear deformation effect

In this paper the analog equation method (AEM), a BEM-based method, is employed for the nonlinear analysis of a Timoshenko beam with simply or multiply connected variable cross section undergoing large deflections under general boundary conditions. The beam is subjected in an arbitrarily concentrated or distributed variable axial loading, while the shear loading is applied at the shear center of the cross section, avoiding in this way the induction of a twisting moment. To account for shear deformations, the concept of shear deformation coefficients is used. Five boundary value problems are formulated with respect to the transverse displacements, the axial displacement and to two stress functions and solved using the AEM. Application of the boundary element technique yields a system of nonlinear equations from which the transverse and axial displacements are computed by an iterative process. The evaluation of the shear deformation coefficients is accomplished from the aforementioned stress functions using only boundary integration. Numerical examples with great practical interest are worked out to illustrate the efficiency, the accuracy and the range of applications of the developed method. The influence of the shear deformation effect is remarkable.     

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of Timoshenko beams by BEM. Part I: Theory and numerical implementation

In this two-part contribution, a boundary element method is developed for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of beams of arbitrary doubly symmetric simply or multiply connected constant cross section, undergoing moderate large displacements and small deformations under general boundary conditions, taking into account the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia. Part I is devoted to the theoretical developments and their numerical implementation and Part II discusses analytical and numerical results obtained from both analytical or numerical research efforts from the literature and the proposed method. The beam is subjected to the combined action of arbitrarily distributed or concentrated transverse loading and bending moments in both directions as well as to axial loading. To account for shear deformations, the concept of shear deformation coefficients is used. Five boundary value problems are formulated with respect to the transverse displacements, to the axial displacement and to two stress functions and solved using the Analog Equation Method, a BEM based method. Application of the boundary element technique yields a nonlinear coupled system of equations of motion. The solution of this system is accomplished iteratively by employing the average acceleration method in combination with the modified Newton–Raphson method. The evaluation of the shear deformation coefficients is accomplished from the aforementioned stress functions using only boundary integration. The proposed model takes into account the coupling effects of bending and shear deformations along the member, as well as the shear forces along the span induced by the applied axial loading.

     

Nonlinear analysis of shear deformable beam-columns partially supported on tensionless three-parameter foundation

In this paper, a boundary element method is developed for the nonlinear analysis of shear deformable beam-columns of arbitrary doubly symmetric simply or multiply connected constant cross-section, partially supported on tensionless three-parameter foundation, undergoing moderate large deflections under general boundary conditions. The beam-column is subjected to the combined action of arbitrarily distributed or concentrated transverse loading and bending moments in both directions as well as to axial loading. To account for shear deformations, the concept of shear deformation coefficients is used. Five boundary value problems are formulated with respect to the transverse displacements, to the axial displacement and to two stress functions and solved using the Analog Equation Method, a BEM-based method. Application of the boundary element technique yields a system of nonlinear equations from which the transverse and axial displacements are computed by an iterative process. The evaluation of the shear deformation coefficients is accomplished from the aforementioned stress functions using only boundary integration. The proposed model takes into account the coupling effects of bending and shear deformations along the member as well as the shear forces along the span induced by the applied axial loading. Numerical examples are worked out to illustrate the efficiency, wherever possible, the accuracy and the range of applications of the developed method.     

Dynamic analysis of 3-D beam elements including warping and shear deformation effects

In this paper the dynamic analysis of 3-D beam elements restrained at their edges by the most general linear torsional, transverse or longitudinal boundary conditions and subjected in arbitrarily distributed dynamic twisting, bending, transverse or longitudinal loading is presented. For the solution of the problem at hand, a boundary element method is developed for the construction of the 14 × 14 stiffness matrix and the corresponding nodal load vector of a member of an arbitrarily shaped simply or multiply connected cross section, taking into account both warping and shear deformation effects, which together with the respective mass and damping matrices lead to the formulation of the equation of motion. To account for shear deformations, the concept of shear deformation coefficients is used, defining these factors using a strain energy approach. Eight boundary value problems with respect to the variable along the bar angle of twist, to the primary warping function, to a fictitious function, to the beam transverse and longitudinal displacements and to two stress functions are formulated and solved employing a pure BEM approach that is only boundary discretization is used. Both free and forced transverse, longitudinal or torsional vibrations are considered, taking also into account effects of transverse, longitudinal, rotatory, torsional and warping inertia and damping resistance. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the method and demonstrate its efficiency and accuracy. The influence of the warping effect especially in members of open form cross section is analyzed through examples demonstrating the importance of the inclusion of the warping degrees of freedom in the dynamic analysis of a space frame. Moreover, the discrepancy in the dynamic analysis of a member of a spatial structure arising from the ignorance of the shear deformation effect necessitates the inclusion of this additional effect, especially in thick walled cross section members.     

A BEM solution to transverse shear loading of composite beams

In this paper a boundary element method is developed for the solution of the general transverse shear loading problem of composite beams of arbitrary constant cross-section. The composite beam consists of materials in contact, each of which can surround a finite number of inclusions. The materials have different elasticity and shear moduli with same Poisson’s ratio and are firmly bonded together. The analysis of the beam is accomplished with respect to a coordinate system that has its origin at the centroid of the cross-section, while its axes are not necessarily the principal ones. The transverse shear loading is applied at the shear centre of the cross-section, avoiding in this way the induction of a twisting moment. Two boundary value problems that take into account the effect of Poisson’s ratio are formulated with respect to stress functions and solved employing a pure BEM approach, that is only boundary discretization is used. The evaluation of the transverse shear stresses is accomplished by direct differentiation of these stress functions, while both the coordinates of the shear center and the shear deformation coefficients are obtained from these functions using only boundary integration. Numerical examples with great practical interest are worked out to illustrate the efficiency, the accuracy and the range of applications of the developed method. The accuracy of the proposed shear deformation coefficients compared with those obtained from a 3-D FEM solution of the ‘exact’ elastic beam theory is remarkable.     

Non-linear flexural–torsional dynamic analysis of beams of arbitrary cross section by BEM

In this paper, a boundary element method is developed for the non-linear flexural–torsional dynamic analysis of beams of arbitrary, simply or multiply connected, constant cross section, undergoing moderately large deflections and twisting rotations under general boundary conditions, taking into account the effects of rotary and warping inertia. The beam is subjected to the combined action of arbitrarily distributed or concentrated transverse loading in both directions as well as to twisting and/or axial loading. Four boundary value problems are formulated with respect to the transverse displacements, to the axial displacement and to the angle of twist and solved using the Analog Equation Method, a BEM based method. Application of the boundary element technique leads to a system of non-linear coupled Differential–Algebraic Equations (DAE) of motion, which is solved iteratively using the Petzold–Gear Backward Differentiation Formula (BDF), a linear multistep method for differential equations coupled to algebraic equations. The geometric, inertia, torsion and warping constants are evaluated employing the Boundary Element Method. The proposed model takes into account, both the Wagner's coefficients and the shortening effect. Numerical examples are worked out to illustrate the efficiency, wherever possible the accuracy, the range of applications of the developed method as well as the influence of the non-linear effects to the response of the beam.     

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of Timoshenko beams by BEM. Part II: applications and validation

In this two-part contribution, a boundary element method is developed for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of beams of arbitrary doubly symmetric simply or multiply connected constant cross section, undergoing moderate large displacements and small deformations under general boundary conditions, taking into account the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia. In Part I the governing equations of the aforementioned problem have been derived, leading to the formulation of five boundary value problems with respect to the transverse displacements, to the axial displacement and to two stress functions. These problems are numerically solved using the Analog Equation Method, a BEM based method. In this Part II, numerical examples are worked out to illustrate the efficiency, the accuracy and the range of applications of the developed method. Thus, the results obtained from the proposed method are presented as compared with those from both analytical and numerical research efforts from the literature. More specifically, the shear deformation effect in nonlinear free vibration analysis, the influence of geometric nonlinearities in forced vibration analysis, the shear deformation effect in nonlinear forced vibration analysis, the nonlinear dynamic analysis of Timoshenko beams subjected to arbitrary axial and transverse in both directions loading, the free vibration analysis of Timoshenko beams with very flexible boundary conditions and the stability under axial loading (Mathieu problem) are presented and discussed through examples of practical interest.

     

Nonlinear flexural–torsional dynamic analysis of beams of variable doubly symmetric cross section—application to wind turbine towers

In this paper, a boundary element solution is developed for the nonlinear flexural–torsional dynamic analysis of beams of arbitrary doubly symmetric variable cross section, undergoing moderate large displacements, and twisting rotations under general boundary conditions, taking into account the effect of rotary and warping inertia. The beam is subjected to the combined action of arbitrarily distributed or concentrated transverse loading in both directions and to twisting and/or axial loading. Four boundary-value problems are formulated with respect to the transverse displacements, to the axial displacement, and to the angle of twist and solved using the Analog Equation Method, a Boundary Element Method (BEM) based technique. Application of the boundary element technique yields a system of nonlinear coupled Differential–Algebraic Equations (DAE) of motion, which is solved iteratively using the Petzold–Gear Backward Differentiation Formula (BDF), a linear multistep method for differential equations coupled with algebraic equations. Numerical examples of great practical interest including wind turbine towers are worked out, while the influence of the nonlinear effects to the response of beams of variable cross section is investigated.     

Generic non-linear modelling of a bi-material composite beam with partial shear interaction

Composite members composed of two materials joined by shear connection find widespread use in engineering infrastructure, in both traditional practice and innovative applications. Studies in the literature dating back nearly 60 years have elucidated the mechanics of the behaviour of these composite structural members in which the solution for the slip at the interface between the materials was determined by solving a linear differential equation. However, these solutions are based on a linear formulation of the strain-displacement relationship, and in some applications this relationship must be represented in non-linear form, so that the second order effects in the member can be quantified correctly. This paper presents such a study for a composite member with two materials, being typical of a steel-concrete composite beam in structural engineering. It quantifies the restraint of the member ends by longitudinal and rotational elastic springs, so that the axial tension developed is a function of the transverse loading, material properties, cross-sectional properties and the restraint stiffness. The problem is treated using minimisation of the total potential stored in the two members, the elastic shear connection at their interface, the restraints at the ends and the work done by the transverse forces, for which the differential equations for the deformations can be determined from routine variational calculus. The non-linear equation of equilibrium relating the external loading to the internal actions is stated in closed form by invoking the static and kinematic boundary conditions for the member. The solution is compared with closed form treatments derived elsewhere, and a representative member is analysed so that the influences of the non-linearity, end restraint stiffness and degree of partial shear interaction on its behaviour can be examined.     

Non-linear buckling and postbuckling behavior of thin-walled beams considering shear deformation

The static stability of thin-walled composite beams, considering shear deformation and geometrical non-linear coupling, subjected to transverse external force has been investigated in this paper. The theory is formulated in the context of large displacements and rotations, through the adoption of a shear deformable displacement field (accounting for bending and warping shear) considering moderate bending rotations and large twist. This non-linear formulation is used for analyzing the prebuckling and postbuckling behavior of simply supported, cantilever and fixed-end beams subjected to different load condition. Ritz's method is applied in order to discretize the non-linear differential system and the resultant algebraic equations are solved by means of an incremental Newton-Rapshon method. The numerical results show that the beam loses its stability through a stable symmetric bifurcation point and the postbuckling strength is in relation with the buckling load value. Classical predictions of lateral buckling are conservative when the prebuckling displacements are not negligible and the non-linear buckling analysis is required for reliable solutions. The analysis is supplemented by investigating the effects of the variation of load height parameter. In addition, the critical load values and postbuckling response obtained with the present beam model are compared with the results obtained with a shell finite element model (Abaqus).     

Shear deformation effect in plates stiffened by parallel beams

In this paper a general solution for the analysis of shear deformable stiffened plates subjected to arbitrary loading is presented. According to the proposed model, the arbitrarily placed parallel stiffening beams of arbitrary doubly symmetric cross section are isolated from the plate by sections in the lower outer surface of the plate, taking into account the arising tractions in all directions at the fictitious interfaces. These tractions are integrated with respect to each half of the interface width resulting two interface lines, along which the loading of the beams as well as the additional loading of the plate is defined. Their unknown distribution is established by applying continuity conditions in all directions at the interfaces. The utilization of two interface lines for each beam enables the nonuniform distribution of the interface transverse shear forces and the nonuniform torsional response of the beams to be taken into account. The analysis of both the plate and the beams is accomplished on their deformed shape taking into account second-order effects. The analysis of the plate is based on Reissner’s theory, which may be considered as the standard thick plate theory with which all others are compared, while the analysis of the beams is performed employing the linearized second order theory taking into account shear deformation effect. Six boundary value problems are formulated and solved using the analog equation method (AEM), a BEM based method. The solution of the aforementioned plate and beam problems, which are nonlinearly coupled, is achieved using iterative numerical methods. The adopted model permits the evaluation of the shear forces at the interfaces in both directions, the knowledge of which is very important in the design of prefabricated ribbed plates. The effectiveness, the range of applications of the proposed method and the influence of shear deformation effect are illustrated by working out numerical examples with great practical interest.     

Non-linear dynamic stability of damped Beck's column with variable cross-section

In this paper the non-linear dynamic stability of Beck's column with variable mass and stiffness properties in the presence of damping (both internal and external) is investigated using a complete non-linear dynamic analysis. This approach permits the examination of the global stability of the system in contrast to the static non-linear one, which, though more economical in computational cost, is associated only with the loss of local stability via flutter or divergence. The governing equations describing the dynamic response are derived in terms of the displacements taking also into account the axial deformation, which has a striking influence on the critical load. Since the cross-sectional properties of the beam vary along its axis, the resulting coupled non-linear differential equations have variable coefficients. Their solution is achieved using the analog equation method (AEM) of Katsikadelis. Besides its accuracy and effectiveness, this method overcomes the shortcoming of a FEM solution, which may experience lack of convergence. Interesting conclusions are drawn. The important, however, finding is that the inclusion of the axial deformation affects highly the critical load of Beck's column with varying cross-sectional properties, while it leaves it unaltered for Beck's column with uniform cross-section.     

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of circular plates with varying thickness

The BEM is developed for nonlinear free and forced vibrations of circular plates with variable thickness undergoing large deflections. General boundary conditions are considered, which may be also nonlinear. The problem is formulated in terms of displacements. The solution is based on the concept of the analog equation, according to which the two coupled nonlinear differential equations with variable coefficients pertaining to the in-plane radial and transverse deformation are converted to two uncoupled linear ones of a substitute beam with unit axial and unit bending stiffness, respectively, under fictitious quasi-static load distributions. Numerical examples are presented which illustrate the method and demonstrate its accuracy.     

Post-critical behavior of damped beam columns with variable cross section subjected to distributed follower forces

In this paper the post-critical behavior of beam columns with variable mass and stiffness properties subjected to follower forces arbitrarily distributed along their length in the presence of damping (both internal and external) is investigated using a complete nonlinear dynamic analysis. Although the static nonlinear analysis is more economical in computational cost, it is associated only with the loss of local stability via flutter or divergence. Thus, the nonlinear dynamic analysis is adopted in order to examine the global stability of the system. The governing equations of hyperbolic type are derived in terms of the displacements by considering (a) nonlinear response including the axial deformation, (b) nonlinear response excluding the axial deformation and (c) linear response. Moreover, as the cross-sectional properties of the beam vary along its axis, the resulting coupled nonlinear differential equations have variable coefficients. Their solution is achieved using the analog equation method (AEM) of Katsikadelis. Besides its accuracy and effectiveness, this method overcomes the shortcoming of a possible FEM solution which may experience a lack of convergence. The problems treated in this investigation include beam columns with various load distributions, such as constant, linear and parabolic. Some of the conclusions detected in studying the nonlinear dynamic stability of Beck’s column with variable cross section (Katsikadelis and Tsiatas, Nonlinear dynamic stability of damped Beck’s column with variable cross section. Int. J. Non-linear Mech. 42, 164–171, 2007), are also valid for the case of distributed loads. The important, however, finding is that the post-critical response under distributed loads depends on the law of distribution of mass and stiffness properties, which may lead also to explosive flutter (unbounded amplitude), in contrast to Beck’s column (end-tip load) where the motion is always bounded.     

A new super convergent thin walled composite beam element for analysis of box beam structures

In this paper, a new composite thin wall beam element of arbitrary cross-section with open or closed contour is developed. The formulation incorporates the effect of elastic coupling, restrained warping, transverse shear deformation associated with thin walled composite structures. A first order shear deformation theory is considered with the beam deformation expressed in terms of axial, spanwise and chordwise bending, corresponding shears and twist. The formulated locking free element uses higher order interpolating polynomial obtained by solving static part of the coupled governing differential equations. The formulated element has super convergent properties as it gives the exact elemental stiffness matrix. Static and free vibration analyses are performed for various beam configuration and compared with experimental and numerical results available in current literature. Good correlation is observed in all cases with extremely small system size. The formulated element is used to study the wave propagation behavior in box beams subjected to high frequency loading such as impact. Simultaneous existence of various propagating modes are graphically captured. Here the effect of transverse shear on wave propagation characteristics in axial and transverse directions are investigated for different ply layup sequences.     

含脱层损伤复合材料层合梁的冲击动力屈曲

针对含初始缺陷和脱层损伤的复合材料层合梁的轴向冲击动力屈曲问题进行了分析。基于Hamilton原理导出了考虑初始缺陷、轴向和横向惯性、横向剪切变形以及转动惯性影响时含脱层损伤复合材料梁的非线性动力屈曲控制方程;基于B-R准则,采用有限差分方法求解了受轴向冲击载荷作用下含脱层损伤复合材料梁的动力屈曲问题;讨论了冲击速度、初始几何缺陷、铺层角度以及脱层长度等因素对复合材料层合梁动力屈曲的影响。     

压电复合材料层合梁的分岔、混沌动力学与控制

研究了简支压电复合材料层合梁在轴向、横向载荷共同作用下的非线性动力学、分岔和混沌动力学响应. 基于vonKarman理论和Reddy高阶剪切变形理论,推导出了压电复合层合梁的动力学方程. 利用Galerkin法离散偏微分方程,得到两个自由度非线性控制方程,并且利用多尺度法得到了平均方程. 基于平均方程,研究了压电层合梁系统的动态分岔,分析了系统各种参数对倍周期分岔的影响及变化规律. 结果表明,压电复合材料层合梁周期运动的稳定性和混沌运动对外激励的变化非常敏感,通过控制压电激励,可以控制压电复合材料层合梁的振动,保持系统的稳定性,即控制系统产生倍周期分岔解,从而阻止系统通过倍周期分岔进入混沌运动,并给出了控制分岔图.      

用材料力学公式计算任意截面短梁正应力时的修正项研究

对材料力学中梁的弯曲应力公式增加一修正项,以反映短梁弯剪翘曲变形对应力分布的影响。提出一种根据短梁横截面边界形状及艾瑞应力函数求解应力修正项的方法,应用弹性力学空间问题的一般理论,通过应力平衡方程、应变相容方程及应力边界条件,建立了关于任意截面短梁的应力修正项及剪应力的基本方程。在所建立的基本方程基础上,导出了矩形截面和圆形截面短梁修正应力的具体计算公式,该修正应力与均布荷载大小及弹性模量与剪切模量之比均成正比,但与截面惯性矩成反比。数值算例表明,本文方法计算的应力与通用有限元软件ANSYS计算的结果吻合良好,从而验证了本文方法及其基本公式的正确性。     

纵横载荷作用下功能梯度梁的弯曲和过屈曲

基于一阶非线性梁理论和物理中面概念,导出了纵横向载荷作用下功能梯度材料(FGM)梁非线性弯曲和过屈曲问题的控制方程,并获得了该问题的精确解;据此解研究了梯度材料性质、外载荷、横向剪切变形以及边界条件等因素对功能梯度材料梁非线性力学行为的影响,分析中假设功能梯度材料性质只沿梁厚度方向,并按成分含量的幂指数函数形式变化。结果表明:纵横载荷共同作用下,功能梯度梁的弯曲构形将有无限多个;随着梯度指数的增大,梁的变形减小,临界载荷升高;随着长高比的增大,横向剪切变形的影响减小。     

Non-linear stability analysis of imperfect thin-walled composite beams

The static non-linear behavior of thin-walled composite beams is analyzed considering the effect of initial imperfections. A simple approach is used for determining the influence of imperfection on the buckling, prebuckling and postbuckling behavior of thin-walled composite beams. The fundamental and secondary equilibrium paths of perfect and imperfect systems corresponding to a major imperfection are analyzed for the case where the perfect system has a stable symmetric bifurcation point. A geometrically non-linear theory is formulated in the context of large displacements and rotations, through the adoption of a shear deformable displacement field. An initial displacement, either in vertical or horizontal plane, is considered in presence of initial geometric imperfection. Ritz's method is applied in order to discretize the non-linear differential system and the resultant algebraic equations are solved by means of an incremental Newton-Rapshon method. The numerical results are presented for a simply supported beam subjected to axial or lateral load. It is shown in the examples that a major imperfection reduces the load-carrying capacity of thin-walled beams. The influence of this effect is analyzed for different fiber orientation angle of a symmetric balanced lamination. In addition, the postbuckling response obtained with the present beam model is compared with the results obtained with a shell finite element model (Abaqus).