FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF FOUR-LAYER HYBRID BEAM WITH SHEAR CONNECTORS

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed finite element model of a four-layer hybrid beam, in which the
two outer layers are made of functionally graded materials (FGM), and the two inner layers are
made of homogeneous material. The layers are connected through shear connectors to limit the
relative sliding ability in the horizontal direction between the layers. A two-node beam element
model with nine degrees of freedom per node is used together with the first-order shear
deformation theory of Timoshenko beams to develop the formulas. The computational program is
programmed in Matlab software and verified through accurate solutions with different beam
models and boundary conditions. The theoretical basis and computational program of this paper
are important results for developing more complex problems such as natural vibrations and
dynamics of four-layer hybrid beam structures with shear connectors.