Dynamic analysis of laminated rotors using a layerwise theory

This paper deals with the dynamic analysis of rotating laminated shafts. A new multi-layer finite element for rotating laminated shaft based on layerwise and shaft theories is formulated and implemented to dispose of a more realistic description of the displacement field through the laminated shaft thickness. This formulation is developed to take into account the influences of stacking sequence, fiber orientation and shear-normal coupling on rotating composite shafts characteristics: natural frequencies and critical speeds and also to analyse the dynamic behaviour of functionally graded material rotating shafts. Obtained results prove that the developed Layerwise Shaft Theory can be efficiently used for rotating laminated shaft dynamic analysis. Furthermore, Layerwise Shaft Theory results revealed that fiber orientations, stacking sequences and shear-normal coupling have a significant effect on the dynamic behaviour of rotating composite shafts and that constituent material properties and power law index have an important influence on the dynamic behaviour of functionally graded material rotating shafts.