Dynamic analysis of varying speed rotating pretwisted structures using refined beam theories

This paper investigates the dynamic modeling and analysis of rotating pretwisted structures with varying speed, considering complex geometries and setting angles. For thin structures with large curvature and pretwist, a modeling approach with high accuracy and efficiency is needed to capture their highly coupled vibratory behaviors. Therefore, there exists a clear demand for refining beam models with only few additional parameters to describe the shell-like performance. In this paper, we propose a novel three dimensional (3D) pretwisted beam element formulation based on the Carrera unified formulation (CUF) theory. The formulation is implemented to the coupled vibration studies of varying speed rotating pretwisted structures by describing the displacement field in rotating coordinate systems. Using nonlinear strain-displacement relations and Hamilton's principle, a 3D pretwisted beam model is derived on the basis of refined beam theories. Also the inertial, centrifugal and Coriolis effects are taken into account, so that the established model is able to reveal coupled dynamic responses, including in-plane, out-of-plane and torsional deformations. Numerical simulation is performed to study the dynamic characteristics and time responses of a fan blade and a space boom. Results show that this method accurately captures the periodic motions and unstable motions of rotating structures. Compared with traditional theories and finite element analysis (FEA) software, the proposed method significantly reduces the computational cost by using self-adaptive model order and element number. In summary, the proposed method can be used to study dynamics of varying speed rotating pretwisted structures in a precise, flexible and numerically economical fashion. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.