Free vibration and stability analysis of three-dimensional sandwich beams via hierarchical models

This paper presents a free vibration and a stability analysis of three-dimensional sandwich beams. Several higher-order displacements-based theories as well as classical models (Euler-Bernoulli's and Timoshenko's ones) are derived assuming a unified formulation by a priori approximating the displacement field along the cross-section in a compact form. The governing differential equations and the boundary conditions are derived in a nucleal form that corresponds to a generic term in the displacement field approximation. The resulting fundamental nucleo does not depend upon the approximation order N that is a free parameter of the formulation. A Navier-type, closed form solution is used. Simply supported beams are, therefore, investigated. Slender up to very short beams are considered. As far as free vibrations are concerned, the fundamental natural frequency as well as natural frequencies associated to torsional and higher modes such as sheet face bending and twisting (typical of sandwich structures) are investigated. The stability analysis is carried out in terms of critical buckling stress in the framework of a linearised elastic approach. Results are assessed towards three-dimensional FEM solutions. It is shown that upon an appropriate choice of the approximation order, the proposed models are able to match the three-dimensional reference solutions. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.