Divergence and flutter behavior of Beck׳s type of laminated box beams

• A formal engineering approach of the mechanics of laminated box beams with nonsymmetric lay-ups.
• The evaluation procedures for the critical values of divergence and flutter with and without damping.
• The influence of various parameters on the divergence and flutter instability of the nonconservative laminated box beams.

The divergence and flutter behavior of Beck׳s type of laminated box beams are investigated based on the finite element model. Mechanics of laminated box beam with non-symmetric lay-up is presented based on kinematic assumptions consistent with Vlasov beam theory. To obtain mass-, elastic stiffness-, geometric stiffness-, damping-, and load correction matrices, the extended Hamilton׳s principle is employed. Evaluation procedures for critical values of divergence and flutter with and without damping effects are briefly introduced. Through numerical examples, influences of fiber angle change, non-conservative parameter, external (viscous fluid) and internal (material) damping on divergence and flutter loads of laminated box beams subjected to a subtangential force are newly presented.