We present a new 2-noded beam element based on the refined zigzag theory and the classical Euler–Bernoulli beam theory for the static analysis of composite laminate and sandwich beams. The proposed element is able to take into account distortion effects due to shear elastic strains and can predict delamination. The element has four degrees of freedom per node. A C1 cubic Hermite interpolation is used for the vertical deflection while a C0 linear interpolation is employed for the other kinematics variables. The stiffness matrix and the load vector are calculated in explicit form using exact integration. The element is free from shear locking as confirmed with numerical tests on a wide range of the slenderness ratios. Numerical results show the ability of the EEBZ2 element to reproduce accurately the vertical deflection along the beam length and complex zigzag distributions of the axial displacement and the stresses across the thickness. Delamination effects are modeled by incorporating of an additional zigzag function corresponding to the kinematics of a zero thickness layer where delamination occurs. An example showing the capability of the new EEBZ2 element for accurately reproducing delamination effects is presented.
Abstract
We present a new 2-noded beam element based on the refined zigzag theory and the classical Euler–Bernoulli beam theory for the static analysis of composite laminate and sandwich beams. [...]
In this work a kinematics for laminated beams enriched with a refined formulation ZigZag (RZT), originally presented by Tessler et al. in 2007, introduced in a hierarchical one dimensional type “p” finite element is presented. The finite element employs Lagrange polynomials for the approximation of the degrees of freedom of the ends (nodes) and orthogonal Gram-Schmidt polynomials to the internal degrees of freedoms. This finite element allows a very low discretization, is free of shear locking and behaves very well when the analysis of laminated composites with accurate determination of local stresses and strains at laminar level is necessary.
This element has been validated in the analysis of laminated beams with various sequences of symmetric and asymmetric stacking, studying in each case its accuracy and stability.
Abstract
In this work a kinematics for laminated beams enriched with a refined formulation ZigZag (RZT), originally presented by Tessler et al. in 2007, introduced in [...]