Finite Element Solution of Nonlinear Intrinsic Equations for Curved Composite Beams

Abstract

A geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis, based on a weak form of the geometrically exact intrisic equilibrium and constitutive equations, is presented for initially curved and twisted composite beams. Results for both nonlinear static deformation and linearized free vibration about the static state of deformation are obtained and compared with published exact and theoretical analyses in the literature for initially curved isotropic beams and for isotropic and composite beams with swept tips. T h e results agree very well with experiment.