A modified couple stress model for bending analysis of composite laminated beams with first order shear deformation

Based on a modified couple stress theory, a model for composite laminated beam with first order shear deformation is developed. The characteristics of the theory are the use of rotation–displacement as dependent variable and the use of only one constant to describe the material’s micro-structural characteristics. The present model of beam can be viewed as a simplified couple stress theory in engineering mechanics. An example as a cross-ply simply supported beam subjected to cylindrical bending loads of fw = q0 sin (πx/L) is adopted and explicit expression of analysis solution is obtained. Numerical results show that the present beam model can capture the scale effects of microstructure, and the deflections and stresses of the present model of couple stress beam are smaller than that by the classical beam mode. Additionally, the present model can be reduced to the classical composite laminated Timoshenko beam model, Isotropic Timoshenko beam model of couple stress theory, classical isotropic Timoshenko beam, composite laminated Bernoulli–Euler beam model of couple stress theory and isotropic Bernoulli–Euler beam of couple stress theory.

► We develop a model for composite laminated beam with first order shear based on a modified couple stress theory.
► This theory possesses rotation-displacement as dependent variable and only one the micro-material constant.
► Numerical results show that the present beam model can capture the scale effects of microstructure.
► Our model can be reduced directly to composite laminated Bernoulli-Euler beam of couple stress theory.