Assessment of four-variable refined shear deformation theory for low-velocity impact analysis of curved sandwich beams

In this paper, the accuracy of the four-variable refined global-local (FRGL) shear deformation theory in the prediction of dynamic responses of curved sandwich beams under low-velocity impact has been investigated. The governing equations of motion of the curved sandwich beams are derived by employing a finite element (FE) model based on FRGL shear deformation theory. By using the method of truncated superimposition of modes, the size of the total dynamic system is firstly reduced. Then, the resulting dynamic system is solved via the statespace (SS) approach. For validation, curved sandwich beams with various deepness ratios and different boundary conditions are analyzed using the proposed model. Different materials and lay-up configurations were assumed for the face-sheets. The obtained results are validated through comparison with the results of ABAQUS simulations and other analytical and numerical results reported in the open literature. The comparisons show that the FRGL shear deformation theory in conjunction with the truncated reduced modal SS approach is a precise and computationally low-cost model for solving the dynamic problems of curved sandwich beams under impact loads.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the accuracy of the four-variable refined global-local shear deformation theory in predicting the dynamic responses of curved sandwich beams under low-velocity impact. The theory is validated using a finite element model and the truncated superimposition of modes approach. The results show that the theory is accurate and computationally efficient for solving dynamic problems.