Statics and Rotational Dynamics of Composite Beams

This book presents a comprehensive study of the nonlinear statics and dynamics of composite beams and consists of solutions with and without active elements embedded in the beams. The static solution provides the initial conditions for the dynamic analysis. The dynamic problems considered include the analyses of clamped (hingeless) and articulated (hinged) accelerating rotating beams. Two independent numerical solutions for the steady state and the transient responses are presented. The author illustrates that the transient solution of the nonlinear formulation of accelerating rotating beam converges to the steady state solution obtained by the shooting method. Other key areas considered include calculation of the effect of perturbing the steady state solution, coupled nonlinear flap-lag dynamics of a rotating articulated beam with hinge offset and aerodynamic damping, and static and dynamic responses of nonlinear composite beams with embedded anisotropic piezo-composite actuators. The book is intended as a thorough study of nonlinear elasticity of slender beams and is targeted to researchers, graduate students, and practicing engineers in the fields of structural dynamics, aerospace structures, and mechanical engineering.

Dr.Mehrdaad Ghorashi is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Maine and amember of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He is also acertified Program Evaluator (PEV) for the Accreditation Board of Engineeringand Technology (ABET) on behalf of the ASME. Dr. Ghorashi has a B.Sc., anM.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University ofTechnology in Tehran, an M.Sc. from Institute for Research in Planning andDevelopment in Tehran, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from CarletonUniversity in Ottawa. He has served as a full time faculty member in SharifUniversity of Technology and later in University of Southern Maine (his currentposition). Dr. Ghorashi has 26 journal and 29 conference publications invarious topics including vibration analysis and control of linear and nonlinearsystems, application of shape memory alloys as actuators, nonlinear rigid bodydynamics (with applications in ships and helicopter blades), elasto-dynamicanalysis of composite helicopter blades, structural design using variationalasymptotic and finite element methods, and limit state analysis of structures.Dr. Ghorashi is a recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell Canada GraduateScholarship Award (CGS), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council ofCanada (NSERC), and the J.Y. and E.W. Wong Research Award in Mechanical/AerospaceEngineering, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Carleton University. Hehas also been recognized as the Best Professor in the Faculty of Engineeringand Design in 2005-06 by the Carleton Student Engineering Society and aUniversity Distinguished Professor (Excellence in Teaching Award) in 1998 inSharif University of Technology. Dr. Ghorashi has been a postdoctoral fellow inthe Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University,where he was a member of the Rotorcraft Research Group. He has also been avisiting research scholar in the Center of Intelligent Material Systems andStructures, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg,in 2002-03. His industrial experience include serving as the Manager ofResearch and Development Department of Iran Vanet (Mazda) Co. and the Managerof the Quality Control Department in Indamine Shock Absorber Mfg. Co. inTehran.