Geometrically nonlinear analysis of a laminated composite beam

The objective of this work is to analyze geometrically nonlinear static analysis a simply supported laminated composite beam subjected to a non-follower transversal point load at the midpoint of the beam. In the nonlinear model of the laminated beam, total Lagrangian finite element model of is used in conjunction with the Timoshenko beam theory. The considered non-linear problem is solved considering full geometric non-linearity by using incremental displacement-based finite element method in conjunction with Newton-Raphson iteration method. There is no restriction on the magnitudes of deflections and rotations in contradistinction to von-Karman strain displacement relations of the beam. In the numerical results, the effects of the fiber orientation angles and the stacking sequence of laminates on the nonlinear deflections and stresses of the composite laminated beam are examined and discussed. Convergence study is performed. Also, the difference between the geometrically linear and nonlinear analysis of laminated beam is investigated in detail.