Advances in optimisation of dynamic stresses in axially loaded composite timoshenko beams

Laminated fibrous composite beams and plates are finding an increasing use in aerospace, marine, mechanical, and other branches of engineering. In order to achieve a better understanding and to identify the key areas of research and the potential problems of analysing composite materials, a review of the relevant literature is presented in this paper. Particular emphasis is given to the development of the optimisation of dynamic stress and aeroelastic tailoring efforts in laminated composite beams with both geometric and material coupling between the bending and torsional deformations. The effects of axial load, transverse shear deformation, rotatory inertia and the fibre orientation are reviewed.