A refined theory for laminated beams. I: A new higher order approach (Q1261606)

The dimensional reduction of this two-dimensional problem to one- dimensional one is fulfilled in the displacement representation. The vertical displacement \(u(x,z)\) is approximated by only one free function \(\xi(z)\), while the axial displacement \(w(x,z)\) is described by finite series consisting of ``warping'' functions \(\psi_ n(x)\) -- established earlier as a part of the solution of the internal domain problem for the given sandwich beam -- multiplied by free functions \(\chi_ n(z)\). The free functions are determined by the variational principle. For numerical examples, the trigonometric series serve as coordinate functions. The presented results are in good accordance with exact solutions, while greater discrepancies are exhibited in comparison with results obtained by some technical sandwich theories.