Shear Correction Factors for Thin-Walled Composite Boxbeam Considering Nonclassical Behaviors

Abstract

In this study, shear correction factor for thin-walled composite boxbeam is investigated with considering the anisotropic coupling effects in its laminated walls parallel to the external shear load. We first consider a generally orthotropic laminated beam whose cross section is rectangular. The beam does in-plane shear deformation by the applied shear force, so that there arises the effect of extension-shear coupling which does not arise in the conventionally studied out-of-plane shear deformation. The shear correction factor is defined by the energy considerations with taking into account the coupling effect. Then the procedures are extended to the case of laminated thin-walled boxbeam, where the coupling plays a significant role due to the geometric characteristics of boxbeam. The shear correction factors for the representative boxbeams which are the core structural components of modern composite helicopter rotor blade are presented with the change of their laminate sequences.