Twisting Deformation of Thin-Walled Metal-Composite Rods

Abstract

Thin-walled elements of structures made of composite materials are increasingly used in aircraft engineering, ship- and machine-building. The Damageability of these elements largely determines the possibility of further use of products containing them. Therefore, the adequate calculation of thin-walled element mechanical behavior is one of the urgent problems in the mechanics of deformable solids. The mathematical model is developed to describe the deformed state of the thin-walled rod with a non-uniform cross-section under arbitrary loading. The resolving equation is obtained to determine the angle of twist of the compound contour under the action of longitudinal forces. To confirm the validity of the developed model, a number of typical metal-metal and metal composite bars have been manufactured, for which experimental measurements of angular displacements in space relative to the selected frame of reference were taken. Results of calculation of the angles of rod twist show fairly good agreement with experimental values for angle bars with the composite reinforcing plate (the difference is 15…25%). Experimentally measured components of displacements match reasonably well with proposed analytical dependencies, and so the developed model can be recommended for practical implementation. Parametric and experimental studies allow us to formulate practical recommendations for forming a rational shape of bars with non-uniform sections.