Analysis of composite beams with partial shear interactions using a higher order beam theory

A new finite element model based on a higher order beam theory is presented for the analysis of composite beams. The proposed model takes into account the effect of partial shear interaction between the adjacent layers as well as transverse shear deformation of the beam. A third order variation of the axial displacement of the fibres over the beam depth is taken to have a parabolic variation of shear stress which is also made zero at the beam top and bottom surfaces. In the proposed FE model, there is no need of incorporating any shear correction factor and the model is free from shear locking problem. In addition to correctly predicting the global responses of the beam, the model can predict better distribution of stresses than the existing models based on Euler–Bernoulli or Timoshenko beam theory. The proposed finite element model is validated by comparing the results with those available in literature. Many new results are presented for future references as there is no published result on composite beams based on higher order beam theory.