Free vibration characteristics of a cantilevered laminated composite beam with multiple non-propagating transverse open cracks are investigated. In the present analysis a special ply-angle distribution referred to as asymmetric stiffness configuration inducing the elastic coupling between chord-wise bending and extension is considered. The multiple φen cracks are modelled as equivalent rotational springs whose spring constants are calculated based on the fracture mechanics of composite material structures. Governing equations of a composite beam with open cracks are derived via Hamilton's Principle and Timoshenko beam theory encompassing transverse shear and rotary inertia effect is adopted. The effects of various parameters such as the ply angle, fiber volume fraction, crack numbers, crack positions and crack depthes on the free vibration characteristics of the beam with multiple cracks are highlighted. The numerical results show that the existence of the multiple cracks in an anisotropic composite beam affects the free vibration characteristics in a more complex fashion compared with the beam with a single crack.

Free vibration characteristics of a cantilevered laminated composite beam with multiple non-propagating transverse open cracks are investigated. In the present analysis a special ply-angle distribution referred to as asymmetric stiffness configuration inducing the elastic coupling between chord-wise bending and extension is considered. The multiple φen cracks are modelled as equivalent rotational springs whose spring constants are calculated based on the fracture mechanics of composite material structures. Governing equations of a composite beam with open cracks are derived via Hamilton's Principle and Timoshenko beam theory encompassing transverse shear and rotary inertia effect is adopted. The effects of various parameters such as the ply angle, fiber volume fraction, crack numbers, crack positions and crack depthes on the free vibration characteristics of the beam with multiple cracks are highlighted. The numerical results show that the existence of the multiple cracks in an anisotropic composite beam affects the free vibration characteristics in a more complex fashion compared with the beam with a single crack.