Multilayer beams: A geometrically exact formulation

We review and extend our recent work on a new theory of multilayer structures, with particular emphasis on sandwich beams/1-D plates. Both the formulation of the equations of motion in the general dynamic case and the computational formulation of the resulting nonlinear equations of equilibrium in the static case based on a Galerkin projection are presented. Finite rotations of the layer cross sections are allowed, with shear deformation accounted for in each layer. There is no restriction on the layer thickness; the number of layers can vary between one and three. The deformed profile of a beam cross section is continuous, piecewise linear, with a motion in 2-D space identical to that of a planar multibody system that consists of three rigid links connected by hinges. With the dynamics of this multi (rigid/flexible) body being referred directly to an inertial frame, the equations of motion are derived via the balance of (1) the rate of kinetic energy and the power of resultant contact (internal) forces/couples, and (2) the power of assigned (external) forces/couples. The present formulation offers a general method for analyzing the dynamic response of flexible multilayer structures undergoing large deformation and large overall motion. With the layers not required to have equal length, the formulation permits the analysis of an important class of multilayer structures with ply drop-off. For sandwich structures, an approximated theory with infinitesimal relative outer-layer rotations superimposed onto finite core-layer rotation is deduced from the general nonlinear equations in a consistent manner. The classical linear theory of sandwich beams/1-D plates is recovered upon a consistent linearization. Using finite element basis functions in the Galerkin projection, we provide extensive numerical examples to verify the theoretical formulation and to illustrate its versatility.