Nonlinear interaction of geometrical and material properties in sandwich beam instabilities

The first part of this paper is dedicated to the analytical and numerical characterization of local and global sandwich beam instabilities in a perfect linear framework. Analytical loads are extracted from an original unified model and used to understand in depth, through a parametric study, the role played by each geometrical and material parameter in the development of global as well as local instabilities. Also, the effects of the combinations of these characteristics is used to draw precious design indications. A low CPU time-consuming simplified model is then built and assessed. Critical loads and wavelengths computed from this model are shown to correlate very well with analytical predictions. It is established that this first approach is essential in order to lead to more detailed investigations in a numerical nonlinear framework which is the aim of the second part. The first geometrical nonlinear investigations in which linear elastic materials are considered permit to isolate sandwich configurations developing super- or sub-critical post-buckling behaviours. As a general trend, unstable behaviours are rather related to the occurrence of geometrical localizations along the beam. This is illustrated by the drastic effects of the so-called interactive buckling onto the whole stiffness of the sandwich beam. Moreover, it is shown that sandwiches are very sensitive towards imperfection sizes and forms. Eventually, an elastoplastic constitutive law is introduced for the core. It is demonstrated that plastic flow and strain localization in the core, combined with the occurrence of instabilities, are associated with a drastic drop in the global beam stiffness and with a strong decrease of the maximum limit load for some cases. The phenomenon of shear crimping is also observed which can be assimilated to a post-bifurcated development of the global buckling mode.     

Buckling driven debonding in sandwich columns

A compression loaded sandwich column that contains a debond is analyzed using a geometrically non-linear finite element model. The model includes a cohesive zone along one face sheet/core interface whereby the debond can extend by interface crack growth. Two geometrical imperfections are introduced; a global imperfection of the sandwich column axis and a local imperfection of the debonded face sheet axis. The model predicts the sandwich column to be very sensitive to the initial debond length and the local face sheet imperfection. The study shows that the sensitivity to the face sheet imperfection results from two mechanisms: (a) interaction of local debond buckling and global buckling and (b) the development of a damaged zone at the debond crack tip. Based on the pronounced imperfection sensitivity, the author predicts that an experimental measurement of the strength of sandwich structures may exhibit a large scatter caused by geometrical variations between test specimens.     

Elastoplastic buckling and post-buckling analysis of sandwich columns

Sandwich structures are widely used in many industrial applications thanks to their interesting compromise between lightweight and high mechanical properties. This compromise is realized thanks to the presence of different parts in the composite material, namely the skins which are particularly thin and stiff relative to the homogeneous core material and possibly core reinforcements. Owing to these geometric and material features, sandwich structures are subject to global but also local buckling phenomena which are mainly responsible for their collapse. The buckling analysis of sandwich materials is therefore an important issue for their mechanical design. In this respect, this paper is devoted to the theoretical study of the local/global buckling and post-buckling behavior of sandwich columns under axial compression. Only symmetric sandwich materials are considered with homogeneous and isotropic core/skin layers. First, the buckling problem is analytically addressed, by solving the so-called bifurcation equation in a 3D framework. The bifurcation analysis is performed using an hybrid model (the two faces are represented by Euler–Bernoulli beams, whereas the core material is considered as a 2D continuous solid), considering both an elastic and elastoplastic core material. Closed-form expressions are derived for the critical loadings and the associated bifurcation modes. Then, the post-buckling response is numerically investigated using a 2D finite element bespoke program, including finite plasticity, arc-length methods and branch-switching procedures. The numerical computations enable us to validate the previous analytical solutions and describe several kinds of post-critical responses up to advanced states, depending on geometric and material parameters. In most cases, secondary bifurcations occur during the post-critical stage. These secondary modes are mainly due to the modal interaction phenomenon and give rise to unstable post-buckled solutions which lead to final collapse.     

Theoretical approach on the dynamic global buckling response of metallic corrugated core sandwich columns

A theoretical (semi-analytical) approach was proposed to estimate the dynamic in-plane response of corrugated core sandwich columns against suddenly applied loads with a compression rate less than 5 m/s. The model has been constructed so as to effectively include various dynamic effects such as stress wave propagation, material rate dependence and lateral inertia. The practical and theoretical complexities caused from the dynamic phenomena and the established governing equations (e.g. coupled non-uniform axial force distribution) have been resolved by employing Galerkin׳s method. The proposed approach was validated by comparing the calculations from the theoretical model and Finite Element Method (FEM): the load history and deformation shape of extruded Al6061-T6 corrugated core sandwich columns and bending/brazed SS304 corrugated core sandwich columns. The model successfully yielded the imperfection-sensitive, velocity-dependent dynamic response and appearance of higher buckling modes. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the sandwich columns with periodic cellular metals outperform their weight-equivalents, monolithic solid columns, under dynamic conditions. The proposed approach as an efficient tool to explore the dynamic global buckling response in design space can make preliminary studies of weight minimization for dynamic applications.     

夹层梁总体屈曲及皱曲的有限元计算

皱曲是夹层结构的一种短波屈曲模式,通常发生于夹心较厚或夹心刚度较低的情况。由于模型规模的限制,在常规有限元建模时通常将夹层板模拟为二维板单元,这种方法忽略了面板和夹心在厚度方向上的相互作用,无法计算出皱曲模式。针对上述问题,本文首先介绍了一个计算夹层结构总体屈曲和皱曲的统一理论,并将此理论的计算结果作为理论解。为了同时...     

圆弧拱考虑一般缺陷的面内屈曲

研究了几何缺陷、荷载非均匀分布和支座沉陷对圆弧拱面内屈曲的影响.基于能量的变分原理推导了考虑缺陷的微分方程,得到了外荷载和轴力的关系式以及径向位移的表达式.从微分方程出发用摄动法对屈曲荷载的缺陷敏感性进行了分析,得到了屈曲荷载的近似表达式.结果表明近似解与精确解吻合良好;正对称屈曲荷载对正对称缺陷参数十分敏感;反对称缺陷参数对反对称屈曲荷载影响显著而正对称缺陷参数影响很小.     

Analysis of bending and buckling of pre-twisted beams: A bioinspired study

Twisting chirality is widely observed in artificial and natural materials and structures at different length scales. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the effect of twisting chiral morphology on the mechanical properties of elas- tic beams by using the Timoshenko beam model. Particular attention is paid to the transverse bending and axial buckling of a pre-twisted rectangular beam. The analytical solution is first derived for the deflection of a clamped-free beam under a uniformly or periodically distributed transverse force. The critical buckling condition of the beam subjected to its self- weight and an axial compressive force is further solved. The results show that the twisting morphology can significantly improve the resistance of beams to both transverse bending and axial buckling. This study helps understand some phenomena associated with twisting chirality in nature and provides inspirations for the design of novel devices and structures.     

Buckling of delaminated bi-layer beam-columns

An improved analytical model is presented to analyze the delamination buckling of a bi-layer beam-column with a through-the-width delamination. Both the transverse shear deformation and local delamination tip deformations are taken into consideration, and two delaminated sub-layers as well as two substrates in the intact (un-delaminated) regions are modeled as individual Timoshenko beams. A deformable interface is introduced to establish the continuity condition between the two substrates in the intact regions. Consequently, a flexible joint is formed at the delamination tip, and it is different from the conventional rigid joint given in most of studies in the literature, in which the local delamination tip deformations are completely ignored. In contrast to the local delamination buckling in our previous study (Qiao et al., 2010), the present model accounts for the global deformations of the intact region in the delaminated composite beam-column, thus capable of capturing the buckling mode shape transitions from the global, to global–local coexistent, and to local buckling for asymmetric delamination as the interface delamination increases. Good agreement of the present analytical solutions with the full 2-D elastic finite element analysis demonstrates the local deformation effects around the delamination tip and verifies the accuracy of the present model. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of loading eccentricity, delaminated sub-layer thickness ratio, and interface compliance on the critical buckling load for the delaminated composite beam-column. Transitions of buckling modes from the global to local delamination buckling are also disclosed as the thickness of one sub-layer reduces from the thick sub-layer to a thin film. The developed delamination buckling solution facilitates the design analysis and optimization of laminated composite structures, and it can be used with confidence in buckling analysis of delaminated composite structures.     

Comparative studies of localized buckling in sandwich struts with different core bending models

Analytical models with geometric non-linearities accounting for interactions between local and global instability modes leading to localized buckling in sandwich struts are formulated. For the core material response, two increasingly sophisticated bending models are compared against each other: Timoshenko beam theory (TBT) and Reddy-Bickford beam theory (RBT). Numerical solutions of the analytical models are validated with the commercial finite element code ABAQUS. It is found that there is a small but significant difference in the critical load between the two models and that the previously obtained solution slightly underestimates the linear buckling strength. More importantly, it is found that the RBT model predicts the onset of interactive buckling before the TBT model and, according to the results from the finite element study, matches the actual behaviour of a strut in both its initial and advanced post-buckling states with excellent correlation.     

考虑周长约束的圆柱薄壳初始几何缺陷随机场建模方法

利用随机场对圆柱薄壳结构的初始几何缺陷进行建模,并据此建立了一种用于含初始几何缺陷轴压圆柱薄壳屈曲分析的随机分析方法。首先,指出已有将圆柱薄壳初始几何缺陷表征为二维高斯随机场的方法会导致与实际不相符的初始几何缺陷,如圆柱周长显著增大或缩小的几何缺陷。其次,提出一种考虑周长不变约束的随机场建模方法,以剔除与实际不相符的随机几何缺陷。最后,基于所建立的初始几何缺陷随机场模型,利用非干涉多项式混沌展开法进行圆柱薄壳的随机屈曲分析,给出临界屈曲载荷的概率分布。数值试验结果表明,基于随机场理论的初始几何缺陷建模方法可有效刻画几何缺陷对结构承载能力的影响,而提出的约束随机场建模方法又能有效减小结果的分散性。     

Buckling of thin-walled columns accounting for initial geometrical imperfections

The paper is devoted to the effect of some geometrical imperfections on the critical buckling load of axially compressed thin-walled I-columns. The analytical formulas for the critical torsional and flexural buckling loads accounting for the initial curvature of the column axis or the twist angle respectively are derived. The classical assumptions of theory of thin-walled beams with non-deformable cross-sections are adopted. The non-linear differential equations are derived and the critical buckling loads are approximated by means of the Galerkin’s method. Comparison of analytical results to numerical analysis of simply supported I-columns by means of finite element method (FEM) is provided. Moreover the analytical formulas is adapted to I-columns with lipped flanges and satisfactory agreement of analytical and numerical results of stability analysis is observed.     

Wrinkling of thick orthotropic sandwich plates under general loading conditions

Summary  This contribution presents an efficient analytical model as well as a FE computation of the critical load, which leads to local stability failure (wrinkling) in sandwich structures. The analytical model assumes an orthotropic face layer and a thick transversely isotropic core. In the last section, a more general core material model is considered. Common core materials (foams and honeycombs) can be described with good accuracy within this model. The main advantage of the solution is the consideration of general loading conditions for the orthotropic face layer as well as in-plane deformations of the core. The results of the FE calculations and the analytical model are in good agreement with each other. Received 7 January 1999; accepted for publication 15 June 1999     

Direct Stiffness Analysis of Lateral Buckling

Abstract

A direct stiffness method of analyzing the elastic ftexural-torsional buckling of rigid-jointed plane frames composed of l-section members and subjected to in-plane loads is presented. The in-plane stiffness matrix and the fixed-end resultants are obtained from the member stiffness matrices derived from the in-plane differential equations. These member stiffness matrices are assembled and solved, and their solutions are used to linearize the flexural-torsional buckling equations. The out-of-plane member stiffness matrices are then obtained numerically from the buckling equations by the method of finite integrals. The out-of-plane frame -stiffness matrix is assembled, and the critical loads are obtained when its determinant is zero. A computer program is developed which carries out either a first- or second-order in-plane analysis, and then determines the flexural-torsional buckling loads. The effects of in-plane deformations prior to buckling can be included. Very good agreement is obtained between the results computed by this program and known solutions, and its ability to analyze large complex frames is demonstrated.     

Thermoelastic buckling of steel columns with load-dependent supports

The in-plane elastic buckling of a steel column with load-dependent supports under thermal loading is investigated. Two elastic rotational springs at the column ends are used to model the restraints which are provided by adjacent structural members or elastic foundations. The temperature is assumed to be linearly distributed across the section. Based on a nonlinear strain–displacement relationship, both the equilibrium and buckling equations are obtained by using the energy method. Then the limits for different buckling modes and the critical temperature of columns with different cases are studied. The results show that the proposed analytical solution can be used to predict the critical temperature for elastic buckling. The effect of thermal loading on the buckling of steel columns is significant. Furthermore, the thermal gradient plays a positive role in improving the stability of columns, and the effect of thermal gradients decreases while decreasing the modified slenderness ratios of columns. It can also be found that rotational restraints can significantly affect the column elastic buckling loads. Increasing the initial stiffness coefficient α or the stiffening rate β of thermal restraints will increase the critical temperature.     

Nonlinear delamination buckling and expansion of functionally graded laminated piezoelectric composite shells

In this paper, an analytical method is presented to investigate the nonlinear buckling and expansion behaviors of local delaminations near the surface of functionally graded laminated piezoelectric composite shells subjected to the thermal, electrical and mechanical loads, where the mid-plane nonlinear geometrical relation of delaminations is considered. In examples, the effects of thermal loading, electric field strength, the stacking patterns of functionally graded laminated piezoelectric composite shells and the patterns of delaminations on the critical axial loading of locally delaminated buckling are described and discussed. Finally, the possible growth directions of local buckling for delaminated sub-shells are described by calculating the expanding forces along the length and short axis of the delaminated sub-shells.     

Special behavior of unidirectional sandwich panels with transversely flexible core under statical loading

Special features inherent in the response of ordinary (fully bonded) and delaminated sandwich panels with a transversely flexible (“soft”) core subjected to external in-plane and vertical statical loads are analyzed. The analytical formulation is based on a higher-order theory for sandwich panels with non-rigid bond layers between the face sheets and the core. The central finite difference scheme is used for discretizing the continuous formulation. The deflated iterative Arnoldi scheme for solution of a large-scale generalized eigenvalue problem is employed, as well as the quasi-Newton global framework for the natural parameter and the arc-length continuation procedures. The numerical higher-order analysis reveals that the ordinary sandwich panel behaves as a compound structure in which the local/localized, overall or interactive forms of the response can take place depending on the geometry, mechanical properties, and boundary conditions of the structure. The non-sinusoidal modes confined to the support zones of the panel may occur at critical loads much lower than those predicted on the basis of presumed sinusoidal modes. Soft-core sandwich panels possess a complex branching behavior with limit points and secondary bifurcations. The thin-film-delamination approach used in the field of the composite plates is unsuitable for the analysis of delaminated sandwich panels and consideration of the interaction between the face sheets and the core is required. The complex response of the soft-core sandwich panels can be predicted only with the aid of the enhanced higher-order theory.     

Exact analytical solutions for the local and global buckling of sandwich beam-columns under various loadings

Sandwich structures are widely used in many industrial applications, due to the attractive combination of a lightweight and strong mechanical properties. This compromise is realized thanks to the presence of different parts in the composite material, namely the skins and possibly core reinforcements or thin-walled core structure which are both thin/slender and stiff relative to the other parts, namely the homogeneous core material, if any. The buckling phenomenon thus becomes mainly responsible for the final collapse of such sandwiches. In this paper, classical sandwich beam-columns (with homogeneous core materials) are considered and elastic buckling analyses are performed in order to derive the critical values and the associated bifurcation modes under various loadings (compression and pure bending). The two faces are represented by Euler–Bernoulli beams, whereas the core material is considered as a 2D continuous solid. A set of partial differential equations is first obtained from a general bifurcation analysis, using the above assumptions. Original closed-form analytical solutions of the critical loading and mode of a sandwich beam-column are then derived for various loading conditions. Finally, the proposed analytical formulae are validated using 2D linearized buckling finite element computations, and parametric analyses are performed.     

热载荷作用下梯度多孔材料梁弯曲及过屈曲力学行为的研究

基于Bernoulli-Euler梁理论,引入物理中面解耦了复合材料结构的面内变形与横向弯曲特性,研究了梯度多孔材料矩形截面梁在热载荷作用下的弯曲及过屈曲力学行为．假设沿梁厚度方向材料的性质是连续变化的,利用能量法推导了矩形截面梁的控制微分方程和边界条件,并用打靶法对无量纲化的控制方程进行数值求解．利用计算得到的结果分析了材料的性质、热载荷、边界条件对矩形截面梁非线性力学行为的影响．结果表明,对称材料模型下,固支梁与简支梁均显示出了典型的分支屈曲行为特征,而其临界屈曲热载荷值均会随着孔隙率系数的增加而单调增加．非对称材料模型下,固支梁仍显示出分支屈曲行为特征,但其临界屈曲热载荷不再随着孔隙率系数的变化而单调变化;而对于两端简支梁,发生了弯曲变形,弯曲挠度随载荷的增大而增大．     

S型功能梯度扁球壳非线性屈曲的渐近分析

本文利用渐近迭代法获得了边界弹性支撑的功能梯度扁球壳的非线性屈曲问题的理论解．假设材料组分体积分数沿壳体厚度方向呈sigmoid幂函数变化,边界上考虑一般的弹性支撑约束．基于经典的薄壳理论和几何非线性关系,导出了S型功能梯度扁球壳的非线性屈曲问题的控制方程．采用渐近迭代法通过两次迭代得到了无量纲挠度和均布荷载之间的非线性特征关系．通过与已有有限元方法和其他数值方法的结果对比,验证了本文解的有效性和高精度．同时,通过计算阐述了缺陷因子、材料参数、边界约束系数及特征几何参数对壳体临界屈曲荷载的影响．     

Postbuckling behaviors of open section composite struts with edge delamination using a layerwise theory

We investigate the mechanical stability of L-section and T-section composite struts with single edge delamination. We propose a solution procedure based on a layerwise theory and the first order shear deformation theory by taking into consideration of the von Karman geometrical nonlinearity. We derive the nonlinear equilibrium equations according to the minimum total potential energy principle, and solve them using Rayleigh–Ritz method and Newton–Raphson method. In modeling the delaminated L-section and T-section struts, we divide the structures into regions, and exert continuity conditions between different regions. The proposed model is capable of analyzing both local buckling of the base laminate and sublaminate as well as the global buckling of the whole structure. We present numerical results to provide an insight into effects of size of delamination on buckling mode and post-buckling behaviors of the struts. We perform the three-dimensional finite element analysis using the ABAQUS commercial software. The results show a very good agreement with those obtained by the analytical method. The results indicate that the presence of delaminations not only reduces the load-carrying capacity of open section struts remarkably, but also plays a pivotal role in the critical buckling load and buckling mode shape of the struts.