A refined model for thermoelastic analysis of initially curved and twisted composite beams

This paper deals with steady state thermoelastic problems in beam structures using the variational asymptotic method. First, we simplify the original three-dimensional heat conduction problem into a two-dimensional thermal cross-sectional analysis along with an optional one-dimensional heat conduction analysis. The refinements up to the second order of the initial curvatures and twist are captured in the model. Having obtained the temperature field, we then construct a generalized Timoshenko model for the one-way coupled thermoelastic analysis. Several examples will be used to demonstrate the application and performance of the present model. The results will be compared with three-dimensional thermoelastic analysis using ANSYS.

► Generalized Timoshenko theory for accurate thermal stress prediction. ► Achieved accuracy comparable to 3D FEA for thermal fields and stress/strain fields. ► No ad hoc assumptions which are common in other approaches are invoked in the derivation. ► Effects of initial curvatures/twists are accurately modeled. ► Implemented in VABS for general-purpose thermoelastic modeling for composite beams.