Transient dynamics of laminated beams: an evaluation with a higher-order refined theory

A higher-order refined model with seven degrees of freedom per node and cubic axial, quadratic transverse shear and linear transverse normal strain components is presented for the transient dynamic analysis of composite and sandwich beams. This shear correction coefficient free theory considers each layer of the beam to be in a state of plane stress. A special lumping scheme is employed for the evaluation of the diagonal mass matrix and a central difference predictor scheme is used to solve the dynamic equilibrium equation. The excellent performance of the higher-order model in comparison with the first-order theory is clearly brought out through numerical experiments