A Strip Element Method for Analyzing Wave Scattering by a Crack in an Axisymmetric Cross-Ply Laminated Composite Cylinder

A strip element method is presented for analyzing waves scattered by a crack in an axisymmetric cross-ply laminated composite cylinder. The cylinder is at the outset discretized as axisymmetric strip elements through the radial direction. The application of the Hamilton variational principle develops a set of governing ordinary differential equations. The particular solutions to the resulting equations are found using a modal analysis approach in conjunction with the Fourier transform technique. The complementary solutions are formulated by the superposition of eigenvectors, the unknown coefficients of which are determined from axial stress boundary conditions at the tips of the crack. The summation of the particular and complementary solutions gives the general solutions. Numerical examples are given for cross-ply laminated composite cylinders with radial cracks. The results show that the present method is effective and efficient. [S0021-8936(00)00202-6]