Thermal Stresses Of Composite Beams With Rectangular And Tubular Cross-sections

Closed-form analytical solutions for laminated composite beams with tubular and rectangular cross-sections are developed for evaluating the thermal induced stresses. The derivations are based on modified lamination theory and parallel axis theorem. The present approach includes variation of ply stiffness along the contour of the cross-section. The interlaminar shear stress of cantilever composite beam with rectangular cross-section under a transverse load is analytically proved to be independent of temperature change in uniform temperature environment. Three-dimensional finite element models for computing thermal stresses of both cross-sections are developed using commercial software package ANSYS 10. The results obtained from analytical solutions give an excellent agreement to finite element results. The effects of stacking sequence and fiber orientation on the in-plane thermal stresses of laminate are studied by using present methods. It is found that fiber orientation plays a significant role on the thermal induced stresses between and within laminas.