Static analysis of composite beams with weak shear connection

The objective of the present paper is to analyse the static behaviour of elastic two-layer beams with interlayer slip. The Euler–Bernoulli hypothesis is assumed to hold for each layer separately, and a linear constitutive equation between the horizontal slip and the interlaminar shear force is considered. The applied loads act in the plane of symmetry of the composite beam, and the material and geometrical properties do not depend on the axial coordinate. Closed-form solutions for displacements and interlayer slips are developed. A second order differential equation is derived for the interlayer slip whose solution is used to determine the deflections and slopes. Examples illustrate the application of the method presented.