Super convergent shear deformable finite elements for stability analysis of composite beams

The super convergent finite beam elements are newly presented for the spatially coupled stability analysis of composite beams. For this, the theoretical model applicable to the thin-walled laminated composite I-beams subjected to the axial force is developed. The present element includes the transverse shear and the warping induced shear deformation by using the first-order shear deformation beam theory. The stability equations and force–displacement relationships are derived from the principle of minimum total potential energy. The explicit expressions for the seven displacement parameters are then presented by applying the power series expansions of displacement components to simultaneous ordinary differential equations. Finally, the element stiffness matrix is determined using the force–displacement relationships. In order to demonstrate the accuracy and the superiority of the beam element developed by this study, the numerical solutions are presented and compared with the results obtained from other researchers, the isoparametric beam elements based on the Lagrangian interpolation polynomial, and the detailed three-dimensional analysis results using the shell elements of ABAQUS. The effects of shear deformation, boundary condition, fiber angle change, and modulus ratios on buckling loads are investigated in the analysis.