Representative Volume Element Based Transverse Shear Characterisation of Laminated Composites

This paper presents a methodology to calculate the shear correction factors for composite plates using a representative volume element approach and finite element analyses. The results are obtained for two case studies: a carbon-epoxy laminate made of UD layers and a glass-epoxy laminate made of BD layers. The results have been compared with other calculations obtained by models provided in the literature. Finally, a finite element model of a cantilever beam is developed using ABAQUS for undertaking modal analysis. The finite element analysis results compared the dynamic characteristics of a beam using both the shear correction factors calculated via the proposed methodology and without the shear correction factors. The finite element analysis results, provided by the shear correction factors calculated via proposed methodology, are compared to the results obtained for a model without shear correction factors. It is possible to observe that the natural frequencies can change by more than 10% due to the effect of transverse shear.