Large deflection analysis of multilayer cantilever beams subjected to impulse loading

A numerical study of the elastic-plastic response of multilayer cantilever beams to impulse loading is presented and compared with experimental result s. The impulse loading from the experimental tests, which was obtained by s ubjecting stationary aluminium cantilever beams to high transient magnetic fields on the surface of the cantilever, was converted to pressure loading for the purposes of the numerical analysis. In addition to the elastic-plas tic finite element model, an approximate theoretical model based on an ener gy method is developed. The combination of large deflections and elastic ef fects removes the restrictions imposed by the rigid-plastic theory, and pro vides the possibility for a better comparison with the data obtained from t he experimental tests. Results from each of these approaches are compared w ith those from experiments. It is concluded that a non-linear, elastic-plas tic transient analysis is needed to predict the deformation response result ing from the impulse loading of cantilever beams. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.