Numerical investigation of free edge effects in laminated composites using h- and p-version Galerkin finite element formulations
- Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
This paper presents numerical investigation of free edge effects in Laminated Composites using three dimensional h- and p-version finite elements based on Galerkin method. In laminated composites with non-isotropic lamina material properties, the existence of high free edge shear stresses has been observed experimentally and has also been documented through analytical studies. However, the question of their magnitude may still be unresolved. In this paper, a series of three dimensional numerical simulations with uniform and graded meshes using h- and p-version finite elements are presented to simulate the free edge shear effects. The numerical studies yield converged solutions for stresses and displacement and the computed results are in exact agreement with those reported in the literature. The studies demonstrate that the converged solutions of stresses at the free edge can be accurately simulated using very coarse p-version meshes with progressively increasing p-levels (or refined and graded h meshes) indicating that the free edge shear effects are in fact stress risers and constitute a smooth problem as opposed to singular problem in which either the stresses or their derivative theoretically must approach infinity. The paper also discusses limitation of using finite element formulations based Galerkin approach and suggests alternatives.
- OSTI ID:
- 357762
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-980213--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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