Computational Investigation on composite beam cross-sections and their influence on structural strength

Conventional beams are replaced by composite beams to withstand heavy loads with minimum weight. It is required to consider the type of material, geometrical details, staking sequence and boundary conditions while analyzing a beam for a particular application. The present work addresses the effect of various cross sections under same loading conditions for a cantilevered supported beam using finite element analysis tool ANSYS. A composite beam under different constraints such as simply supported, cantilever supported and fixed conditions are explored by varying number of layers in a composite beam. The finite element models are validated by comparing the deflections of the resulting beam with published results. The linear and transverse deflections, normal and tangential stresses are evaluated by changing the no of layers and stacking sequence of a composite beam under considered boundary conditions. The present work is used for the effective design of composite beams for different applications using finite element method. Composites are frequently applicable in automobile, aerospace, nuclear, biomedical, marine, wind turbine blades because they have permissible fatigue characteristics and fiber orientation can be change to obtain design requirements. Moreover, the composite materials comprise of two or more materials which are stacked together. Most of the special discretization techniques are based on the finite elements materials (FEM). They basically used for low order basic functions and their accuracy is improved by meshing. There are two main approaches according to laminated beam theory, firstly the approach in lateral(y-direction) where the beam displacement is neglected. cross-ply that is 0 deg and 90deg stacked layers laminated beams, also used this approach where the laminated beams are layered angle-ply (ɵ and -ɵ layers). Secondly From the existing laminated plate theory laminated beam theory is developed where, the stress and moments are ignored. This approach is mainly used for symmetric beams and in laminated beams. this paper figured out the total displacement and stresses on a cantilever supported beam with various cross-sections like I-section, C-section, Rectangular section by applying load at the free end of the beam.