The harmonic response of tapered composite beams is investigated by us
ing a finite element model. Only uniaxial bending is considered. The P
oisson effect is incorporated in the formulation of the beam constitut
ive equations. Interlaminar stresses are evaluated by using stress equ
ilibrium equations. The effects of in-plane inertia and rotary inertia
are also considered in the formulation of the mass matrix. A parametr
ic study is carried out to investigate the influence of taper profile
and taper parameter. Linearly varying thickness variations of increasi
ng, decreasing, decreasing-increasing and increasing-decreasing types
are considered. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.