Geometrical Nonlinear Analysis of Composite Structures by Zigzag Theory A Review

N. J. Shirbhatea and V. B. Tungikarb

a

Senior Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engineering and Technology, Yavatmal, India -445001 b Professor, Production Engineering Department, Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Nanded, India -431606 Abstract. Advances in manufacturing technologies of composites leads to its uses as main load carrying structures which essentially need to be thick structures. Thus it is becoming increasingly important to predict accurately interlaminar variations of stresses and displacements along thickness of the composites. A review of the recent development of finite element methods for geometrical nonlinear analysis of composite structures specifically using zigzag theory is presented in this paper. The literature review is devoted to the recently developed finite elements, theories based on zigzag function for carrying out geometrical nonlinear analysis of composite structures. The future research is summarized finally. Keywords: geometrical nonlinear analysis, composite structures, zigzag theory. PACS: 46.70.De

INTRODUCTION
Composite laminates has established itself in a variety of industrial applications in this modern world. Its properties such as high stiffness to weight ratio, long fatigue life, resistance to corrosion and superior material properties are luring the industrial world. Initially composites were used only in thin structures. But now a days because of advances in manufacturing technologies composites are used in manufacturing main load carrying structures. Thus they needed to be thick composite structures rather than the thin one. To strengthen applications of composites extensive studies about its behavior at various conditions were carried out. It is observed that finite element method is most suitable method for the analysis of complex structural behavior of composites. Lots of research efforts have been devoted in this area. Different laminated plate theories are proposed for studying the behavior of the composite structures. These theories can be broadly divided into following three categories [1]: 1) Equivalent single layer (ESL) theories, including a. Classical lamination theory (CLT) b. First order shear deformation theory (FSDT) or Mindlin plate theory c. Higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) CREDIT LINE (BELOW) TO BE INSERTED ON THE FIRST PAGE OF EACH PAPER 2) Layer-wise lamination theory (LLT)
CP1298, International Conference on Modeling, Optimization, and Computing, (ICMOC 2010) edited by S. Paruya, S. Kar, and S, Roy 2010 American Institute of Physics 978-0-7354-0854-8/10/$30.00

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3) Continuum based theory In equivalent single layer theory (ESL), material properties of all layers are smeared and the laminate is modeled as an equivalent single anisotropic layer. In classical lamination theory (CLT) shear deformation effects are neglected and thus rarely recommended for composite structure analysis. The first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) which is most popular, assumes that a line originally straight and normal to the reference surface remains straight during deformation but not necessarily perpendicular to reference surface. This theory provides good prediction of overall behavior of laminate provided that the structure is thin and material properties of the adjacent layers do not vary significantly. Computational efficiency is one of the advantages of FSDT, but it cannot provide insight for the local effects in composite structures. Various higher order theories have been developed to overcome limitations of classical lamination theory (CLT) and first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). In higher order theories (HSDT) displacements are assumed to be function of higher order polynomial and are C1 continuous through the thickness thus predicting nonlinear variation of displacements, strain and stress through the thickness of the laminate. Higher order shear deformation theories (HSDT) are found to be comparatively computationally expensive. Major limitations of all above theories are that they do not satisfy continuity conditions of the transverse shear stresses at the layer interfaces and thus need shear correction factor. Also all equivalent single layer (ESL) theories are unable to predict discontinuities at layer interfaces of the composite. These make them inefficient for predicting results in thick laminated structures. In efforts to overcome limitations of equivalent single layer theories (ESL) Layerwise lamination theory (LLT) or discrete layer theories were proposed. These theories assumes separate displacement field for each layer and accounts inter-laminar continuity of displacements and transverse stresses. Thus these theories can accurately predict variation of laminar and inter-laminar displacements and stresses, but they are computationally expensive and number of unknown depends on the total number of layers in the laminate. The continuum based theory can be used directly with 3D model and is accurate but computational time involved is enormous. A new class of laminate theory, was proposed by Averill and Yip [2], in which inplane displacements in a laminate are assumed to be piecewise (layerwise) linear and continuous through the thickness. In this theory composite structure is subdivided into number of sublaminate, with each sublaminate consisting of number of physical layers of composite structure. Because of increased use of thick composite materials for the building of main structures, it is becoming increasingly important to predict accurately interlaminar variations of stresses and displacements along thickness of the laminates. It is observed that equivalent single layer (ESL) theories cannot be employed for it. Layerwise lamination theories (LLT) and continuum based theories proved to be computationally very expensive and thus difficult to use commercially. The new mixed theory i.e. sublaminate theory which seems to hold benefits of both ESL and LLT may emerge as possible means to analyze improved thick laminated structures.

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ZIGZAG EFFECT IN COMPOSITE (LAYERED) STRUCTURES

As the layered structure deformed, it may be possible that every layer may deformed separately because of different material properties. But the layers are considered to be perfectly bonded at layer interfaces and not free to deform individually, the displacement field along the thickness direction takes the zigzag shape. These changes in slope between two adjacent layers are known as zigzag (ZZ) effect [3]. Transverse shear and normal strains deformations are the cause of the ZZ effect between layers that are assumed perfectly bonded together. These transverse strains cause transverse shears and normal stresses, which are continuous at each layer interface (Interlaminar Continuity (IC) for the transverse stresses). Several possibilities are known to take ZZ and IC into account in multilayered structures.

FIGURE 1. Composite Structure showing Zigzag displacement

ZIGZAG THEORY FOR GEOMETRICAL NONLINEAR ANALYSIS

Most of the initial researches related to analysis of composite materials were targeted to solving the problems related to linear analysis of composite structures and shear and membrane locking phenomenon. Classical lamination theory do not account for the effect of transverse displacement while first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) assumes linear variation of displacement in thickness direction consequently which predict uniform shear stress through the thickness. Thus it needs incorporation of shear correction factor. Discrete layer approximation theories overcome limitations of equivalent single layer theory (ESL). This theory assumes piecewise layer by layer displacement or transverse shear stress assumptions. Tungikar and Khadse [4] developed four node isoperimetric element using C0 continuity zigzag function for representing in-plane displacement through the laminate thickness for dynamic analysis of composite plates. Di Sciuva [5] proposed nonlinear third order shear deformation plate theory accounting for continuous interlaminar transverse shearing stresses and maintaining geometric and stress continuity conditions at the layer
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interfaces. Librescu and Schmidt [6] presented discrete layer shell theory for anisotropic shells satisfying geometrical continuity and static continuity conditions at layer interface. Need of incorporation of global transverse shear stress correction factor is identified which may vary along with total number of layers in the laminate. The discrete layer models have the advantage that they recover the inter-laminar stresses, and are accurate for global and local responses of the laminates. However, they are quite cumbersome for solution because the order of governing equations is dependent on the total number of layers. In the zigzag first order theory variation of displacement along thickness of the composite is assumed linear, which leads to constant shear stresses within each layer, not satisfying continuity conditions at interlaminar boundaries. Many researchers have addressed this problem by developing refined first order and higher order theories with continuous inter-laminar stresses. Di Sciuva [7] developed a third order shear deformation plate model with continuous interlaminar stresses. To fulfill the conditions of zero transverse shear stresses on the bounding surface of the plate, the author proposed a generalized zigzag model by assuming a displacement field which allows a nonlinear variation of the in-plane displacements through the laminate thickness. It also satisfy geometric and stress continuity conditions at the layer interfaces and on the top and bottom surfaces for symmetric laminate. Savithri and Vardan [8] presented a theory for nonlinear analysis of laminated composites considering moderately large deflection and compared results with existing theories. Authors demonstrate that proposed theory gives fairly accurate result without dropping computational efficiency. Carrera [9, 10] evaluated various layerwise theories for laminated plate analysis and presented Murakamis zigzag function (MZZF) in the two dimensional modeling of multilayered plates and shells and concluded that multilayer plat and shell theories can be greatly improved by the use of MZZF. Cho and Averill [11] developed refined laminated plate theory for linear analysis assuming zigzag variation of displacement through thickness. Assumption of in plane displacement accounts for discrete layer effect without increasing number of degree of freedom with increase in total number of layers. Desai, Ramtekkar and Shah [12] develop three dimensional 18 node finite element based on Hamiltons principle, involving transverse stress components (z, xz, yz) along with displacement components as nodal degrees of freedom. Novel concept of applying elastic equations between stress and displacement fields within elastic continuum was employed. Demasi [3] discusses use of Murakami zigzag function (MZZF) in two dimensional modeling of multilayered plates and concluded that to capture local effects, inclusion of MZZF is not enough and inclusion of advance layer-wise theories or three dimensional theories are required. Rameshchandra, Shimpi, and Ghugal [13] presented layerwise shear deformation theory for cross-ply beams using trigonometric function. Many advantages of the approach such as satisfaction of continuity conditions of transverse shear stress at layer interface, zero shear stress at top and bottom of surface of beam, satisfaction of constitutive relations, and reduction in total number of variables are claimed by the author. Wu, Chen and Chen [14] proposed a model based on global-local higher order theory for composite plate. In it displacement component consists of both local and global terms of displacement. The quadrilateral and triangular element developed
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based on the theory found to be satisfying continuity conditions and transverse shear force free conditions at top and bottom surface of the plates. Fares and Elmarghany [15] presented a nonlinear piecewise zigzag first order shear deformation theory for composite laminates using modified Reissners mixed variational formulation. The results presented in the paper were found encouraging and comparable with results obtained with other theories. Vidal and Polit [16] proposed a new theory for non linear analysis of composite beam based on sinus distribution with layer refinement and transverse shear stress is represented by cosine function. A three node beam element is developed. Yu and Hodges [17] developed a geometrically nonlinear shear deformation theory for composite shells. Andrade, Awruch and Morsch [18] presented eight node hexahedral elements for geometrically nonlinear static and dynamic analysis of composite plates and shells. Shear locking is controlled by using corotational system for stress and strain component while volumetric locking is avoided by one point quadrature for spherical part of gradient matrix. Nine node Lagrangian shell element based on modified first order shear deformation theory was presented by [19,20]. Shear and membrane locking is avoided by using assumed natural strain (ANS) method. Four node co-rotational shell element is developed by Kim, Han, Suthasupradit [21]. Combination of enhanced assumed strain (EAS) for membrane strain and assumed natural strain (ANS) for shear strain improves element behavior. Attar [22] observe that exact strain tensor but approximated rotation tensor theories can significantly improve the solution over approximate strain tensor models such as von Karman and moderate rotation models for moderated rotation/ deflection. An improved shear deformation theory for moderately thick layered shells and plates satisfying displacement and geometric continuity conditions were presented by Di Sciuva [23] and quadrilateral element based on improved theory is presented in [24]. Evaluation of geometrical nonlinear effects of thin and moderately thick multilayered composite shells had been carried out by Carrera and Parisch [25]. The authors improved transverse shear stiffness calculation for thick shells by incorporating zigzag effect for in plane displacement components and observed that approximation made by simplified models are highly problem dependent. Chaudhuri [26] presented finite element based analysis technique for the prediction of large deformation response in laminated shell structures. The element presented utilizes method of virtual work, total Lagrangian (TL) formulation. The layer-wise constant shear angle theory (LCST) is used in this approach.

SUMMARY AND FUTURE RESEARCH

Increase use of composite structures for building main load carrying structures necessitates accurate analysis of such structures so as to predict inter-laminar behavior correctly. Zigzag theory seems to provide the means to achieve this as it insures computational efficiency. Zigzag theory combined with sublaminar approach will provide prediction of interlaminar behavior of the structure. Following technological gaps have been identified through literature survey. 1) Many refined Zigzag first order and higher order shear deformation model for nonlinear analysis of composite plates have been proposed, but very few work

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focusing application of the theory for composite laminated shell structure is available. 2) Sublaminate approach seems to improve computational efficiency and retain capacity to predict inter laminar variations of displacements and stresses. Very few works showing use of Zigzag function for non linear analysis of composite plates using sublaminated approach is available. This work may be extended for laminated shell structures. 3) Instead of Zigzag function trigonometric function for representing variation of planer displacements is suggested. Trigonometric function seems to provide few benefits related to reduction in total number of unknowns. But literature survey shows that this approach is at primary stage and very few works is carried out showing its implementation for non linear analysis of laminated beam structures. The theory may be extended for plates and shells.

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