An Iso-Geometric Analysis of Tow-Steered Composite Laminates: Free Vibration, Mechanical Buckling and Linear Flutter Analysis

In this chapter, by employing a basis B-splines based finite element method, the natural frequency, critical buckling load and critical aerodynamic pressure of tow-steered composite laminate is numerically studied. The distinguishing feature of tow-steered composites when compared to conventional laminated composites is that in the former, a spatial variation of the fiber is considered. The plate kinematics accounts for the transverse shear deformations and an artificial shear correction factor is introduced to alleviate the shear locking problem. The effect of plate thickness, spatial variation of the fiber and the boundary conditions are systematically studied.