A simple mixed-based approach for thin-walled composite blades with two-cell sections

In this work, a mixed beam approach that combines both the stiffness and the flexibility methods has been performed to analyze the coupled composite blades with closed, two-cell cross-sections. The Reissner’s semi-complementary energy functional is used to derive the beam force-displacement relations. Only the membrane part of the shell wall is taken into account to make the analysis simple and also to deliver a clear picture of the mixed method. All the crosssection stiffness coefficients as well as the distribution of shear across the section are evaluated in a closed-form through the beam formulation. The theory is validated against experimental test data, detailed finite element analysis results, and other analytical results for coupled composite blades with a two-cell airfoil section. Despite the simple kinematic model adopted in the theory, an accuracy comparable to that of two-dimensional finite element analysis has been obtained for cases considered in this study.