Modal Analysis of Thin Walled Multi-Cell Multi-Tapered Composite Beams of Closed Cross Sections

Abstract

This paper explicitly highlights the modal analysis of thin walled multi-cell multi-tapered composite beams in cantilever configurations, using MSC Patran / Nastran finite element package. Initially, the verification of the model was done with the analytical results in order to ensure the model accuracy. All the multi-tapered beams under examination are composed of closed section and three cell configuration. There is a vivid description of all the effects of composite material and stacking sequence on the modal frequencies. It also suggests the ways to shift the natural frequencies of the multi-tapered beams. This paper verifies the effects of different geometrical configurations of beams (tapered angles, lengths and point of variation of tapered angles) on the modal frequencies. This research is also useful in aerospace industry while designing the aircraft wing, which would experience the vibrations due to wind gust and engine cycles.