Coupled Modal Analysis and Aerodynamics of Rotating Composite Beam

Materials (Basel). 2023 Nov 26;16(23):7356. doi: 10.3390/ma16237356.

Abstract

This study primarily focuses on conducting, both experimentally and numerically, a modal analysis of a cantilever composite beam. Through extended numerical simulations, we investigate Campbell diagrams, which, depending on the rotation speed of the structure, comprise natural frequencies and their corresponding modal shapes. Our results are categorized into two main aspects: the classical single-mode behavior and an innovative extension involving linearly coupled modal analysis. One key novelty of our research lies in the introduction of an analytical description for coupled mode shapes, which encompass various deformations, including bending, longitudinal deformations, and twisting. The most pronounced activation of dynamic couplings within the linear regime for a 45∘ preset angle is observed, though the same is not true of the 0∘ and 90∘ preset angles, for which these couplings are not visible. In addition to the modal analysis, our secondary goal is to assess the lift, drag forces, and moment characteristics of a rectangular profile in uniform flow. We provide insights into both the static and dynamic aerodynamic responses experienced by the beam within an operational frequency spectrum. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of composite rotating beams and their aerodynamic characteristics.

Keywords: composite material; modal interactions; rotating structure.