Flutter of rectangular composite plates with variable fiber pacing

The effect of variable fiber spacing on the supersonic flutter of rectangular composite plates has been investigated using the finite element method and quasi-steady aerodynamic theory. The formulation of the location dependent stiffness and mass matrices due to nonhomogeneous material properties was derived. This study first demonstrates the flutter analysis of composite plates with variable fiber spacing. Numerical results show that the sequence of the natural mode may be altered and the two natural frequencies may be close to each other due to the fiber distribution may change the distributed stiffness and mass of the plate. Therefore, it may change the flutter coalescent modes. It is seen that the flutter boundary may be increased or decreased due to variable fiber spacing. The punch phenomenon on the flutter boundary is obvious in the absence of aerodynamic damping. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.