Natural Frequency for a Composite Structure Made with a Combination of Metal and Laminated Composites

Abstract

The need for low weight and high strength of the component is in high demand in various aerospace and defense industries and in line with this utilization of the combination of metal and composite increases. In this work, the natural frequency analysis of the structure, is carried out which is a combination of metal and composite. The natural frequency of the system is directly proportional to the stiffness of the system i.e. high natural frequency reflects high stiffness of materials. The structure considered like a cantilever beam, initially considering Titanium alloy the finite element analysis to get natural frequency carried out and validated using an analytical method. Then modal analysis performed using FEA for laminated composite structure and validate with the experimental results and received good agreement. The laminated composite beam manufactured using a hand layup method. Lastly, the structure modeled as a combination of laminated composite material & metal and FEA modal analysis done. The various volume percentage of composite and metal is studied and the best one finds out. The structure considered related to the last stage of the steam turbine blade.