Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Nithi T. Sivaneri.

Abstract

Free vibration characteristics of a rotating composite cantilever beams subjected to a hygrothermal environment is studied using the finite element analysis. The problem is formulated using a First Order Shear Deformation theory (FSDT) for composite materials. The finite element formulation is based on variational principles and the equations are solved by a code generated using MATLAB. Hygrothermal effects are incorporated using empirical relations degrading the material stiffness property of the matrix depending on the temperature and moisture concentration. The dynamic analysis of a rotating composite beam are validated by comparing with that available in literature and the hygrothermal incorporation is validated by replicating results from literature for the case of bending deflection.;The influence of hygrothermal environments on the natural frequency of the beam is studied by conducting a parametric study. The hygrothermal effect on the natural frequency is minimal on the first two bending modes but more pronounced on the higher modes. As the rotating speed increases the hygrothermal effect is reduced.

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