Open Access

ARTICLE

Size-Dependent Flexural Dynamics of Ribs-Connected Polymeric Micropanels

K.B. Mustapha ^1,2

1 Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology (SarawakCampus), Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching 93350, Sarawak, Malaysia.
2 Corresponding author. Tel: +6082260656; E-mail: kbmustapha@swinburne.edu.my

Computers, Materials & Continua 2014, 42(2), 141-174. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmc.2014.042.141

Abstract

This study investigates the sensitivity of the flexural response of a ribconnected system of coupled micro-panels with traction-free surfaces. Idealized as a two-dimensional elastic continuum with a finite transverse stiffness, each micropanels’ behavior is examined within the framework of the biharmonic mathematical model derived from the higher-order, size-dependent strain energy formulation. The model incorporates the material length scale, which bears an associative relationship with the underlying polymer’s averaged Frank elastic constant. Upper estimates of the eigenvalue of the system, under fully clamped edges and simplysupported edges, are determined by the Rayleigh method. The adopted theory for the micro-panel’s behavior takes into account the rotary inertia, the small-scale effect, the Poisson’s ratio and the effective stiffness of the ribs, but neglects shear distortion. Frequency shifts of the rib-connected coupled micro-panels are systematically identified and presented. Results indicate the critical thickness for which the polymeric micro-panel’s resonant frequency starts to experience stiffened responses based on the magnitude of the size-effect. The Rayleigh method of eigenvalue extraction is augmented with the applied statistical method of design of experiment for the discovery of notable interaction effects between the aspect ratio, rotary inertia, small-scale effect, and thickness-to-span ratio of the system.

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Keywords

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