Dynamic Response of Delaminated Composite and Sandwich Beams Using an Efficient Sub-Lamented Based Higher Order Laminate Model

A higher order model having sub-laminate capabilities for dynamic analysis of intact or delaminated composite and sandwich beams are presented. Each sub-laminate considered cubic and quadratic through-thickness variations for axial and transverse displacements respectively. The presence of displacement fields at the external surfaces of the sub-laminates helps to conveniently stack multiple sub-laminates by no additional treatments. The model has the flexibility in choosing the number of sub-laminates that provides the flexibility of controlling accuracy and computational efficiency. Central to the model is the development of a C-0 continuous displacement based beam element. A thorough validated of the model is conducted using a wide range of problems having different structural configurations and dynamic loading. The model is then employed to investigate the behavior of new sandwich beam problems with multiple de-laminations under dynamic loads to study the influence of different delamination configurations. New results generated during this process can serve as benchmark data for future research.