Statics and Rotational Dynamics of Composite Beams

This book presents a comprehensive study of the nonlinear statics and dynamics of composite beams and consists of solutions with and without active elements embedded in the beams. The static solution provides the initial conditions for the dynamic analysis. The dynamic problems considered include the analyses of clamped (hingeless) and articulated (hinged) accelerating rotating beams. Two independent numerical solutions for the steady state and the transient responses are presented. The author illustrates that the transient solution of the nonlinear formulation of accelerating rotating beam converges to the steady state solution obtained by the shooting method. Other key areas considered include calculation of the effect of perturbing the steady state solution, coupled nonlinear flap-lag dynamics of a rotating articulated beam with hinge offset and aerodynamic damping, and static and dynamic responses of nonlinear composite beams with embedded anisotropic piezo-composite actuators. Thebook is intended as a thorough study of nonlinear elasticity of slender beams and is targeted to researchers, graduate students, and practicing engineers in the fields of structural dynamics, aerospace structures, and mechanical engineering.

Introduction.- Review of the Variational Asymptotic Method and the Intrinsic Equations of a Beam.- Linear Static Analysis of Composite Beams.- Nonlinear Static Analysis of Composite Beams.- Transient Nonlinear Dynamics of Accelerating Hingeless Rotating Blades.- Steady State and Perturbed Steady-State Nonlinear Dynamics of Hingeless Rotating Blades.- Rigid and Elastic Articulated Rotating Composite Blades.- Static and Dynamic Analysis of Beams with Embedded Anisotropic Piezocomposite.- Appendices.   

Dr. Mehrdaad Ghorashi is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Maine and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He is also a certified Program Evaluator (PEV) for the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) on behalf of the ASME. Dr. Ghorashi has a B.Sc., an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, an M.Sc. from Institute for Research in Planning and Development in Tehran, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa. He has served as a full time faculty member in Sharif University of Technology and later in University of Southern Maine (his current position). Dr. Ghorashi has 26 journal and 29 conference publications in various topics including vibration analysis and control of linear and nonlinear systems, application of shape memory alloys as actuators, nonlinear rigid body dynamics (with applications in ships and helicopter blades), elasto-dynamic analysis of composite helicopter blades, structural design using variational asymptotic and finite element methods, and limit state analysis of structures. Dr. Ghorashi is a recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship Award (CGS), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the J.Y. and E.W. Wong Research Award in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Carleton University. He has also been recognized as the Best Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Design in 2005-06 by the Carleton Student Engineering Society and a University Distinguished Professor (Excellence in Teaching Award) in 1998 in Sharif University of Technology. Dr. Ghorashi has been a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University, where he was a member of the Rotorcraft Research Group. He has also been a visiting research scholar in the Center of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, in 2002-03. His industrial experience include serving as the Manager of Research and Development Department of Iran Vanet (Mazda) Co. and the Manager of the Quality Control Department in Indamine Shock Absorber Mfg. Co. in Tehran.