Bending and Extension of Thin-Walled Composite Beams of Open Cross-Sectional Geometry

A theoretical model for bending and extension of composite beams of open thin-walled geometry is devised. The model is based on a detailed description of the out-of-plane warping and may handle generic open cross-sectional geometries and arbitrary layup configurations. In view of the potential of composite beams to produce useful structural couplings, the analysis is focused on the ability to predict the coupling mechanisms, and draw lines of similarities and differences between such beams and similar thin-walled beams of closed cross sections. [S0021-8936(00)01204-6]