Analytical–numerical study of interfacial stresses in plated beams subjected to pulse loading

In strengthening an existing beam using externally bonded soffit plates, interfacial stresses play an important limiting role on the attainment of full flexural capacity of the composite system. This paper deals with spatial and temporal distributions of shear and normal interfacial stresses in a plated beam subjected to pulse loading. Interfacial stresses are related to displacement coordinates using a set of assumptions and the coupled partial differential equations in the space of these displacement coordinates have been derived by application of dynamic equilibrium, compatibility and constitutive relations. The equations have been solved numerically for the dynamic response. The results for three pulse loading cases have been compared to finite element analyses and reasonable correlation is observed. Compared to dynamic or quasi-static ranges the correlation is weaker when loading is in the impulsive range. Spatial stress distribution suggests that unlike static loading, in the case of pulse loading interfacial stresses are not necessarily concentrated at the edges.