Two-dimensional elasticity model for composite beams with deformable shear connectors: Analytical and numerical solutions

A novel and efficient exact two-dimensional (2D) model is developed for predicting the flexural response of two-layered composite beams made of different materials based on the elasticity theory. The beam is considered as a specific case of plane stress problem laying in the longitudinal vertical plane passing through the centroid of the beam section. The proposed two-dimensional model considers the orthotropic properties of materials used in composite beams. The partial shear interaction between two material layers in the form of shear slip at their interface is also considered in this study. The deformable shear connectors between these layers are modeled using distributed shear springs along the beam length. The present 2D model's accuracy is validated by comparing its results with published results as well as numerical results generated by a thorough 2D finite element model using ABAQUS. Furthermore, the stretching effect over the direction of beam depth on the flexural response of two-layered composite beams is investigated by comparing the results produced by the one-dimensional (1D) HBT model and the proposed 2D elasticity model.