Vibration transmission and energy flow analysis of variable stiffness laminated composite plates

This study investigates the vibration transmission and energy flow tailoring of variable stiffness laminated composite (VSLC) plates with curvilinear fibres subjected to harmonic excitation. The free vibration charac-teristics of VSLC plates are firstly studied. The steady-state dynamic responses are then obtained based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The effects of variable angle fibres on the time-averaged input power and kinetic energy of the plate are examined using the power flow analysis approach. The time-averaged power flow density vector is used to determine the primary energy transmission paths, which are shown to depend on the dominant mode excited by the applied force. Curvilinear fibre designs are found to have a significant influence on the main energy flow transmission paths and vibration level. For enhanced vibration suppression, the fibre angles can be tailored to modify the vibration transmission paths according to a specific excitation.