Large deflection analysis of multilayer cantilever beams subjected to impulse loading

A numerical study of the elastic–plastic response of multilayer cantilever beams to impulse loading is presented and compared with experimental results. The impulse loading from the experimental tests, which was obtained by subjecting stationary aluminium cantilever beams to high transient magnetic fields on the surface of the cantilever, was converted to pressure loading for the purposes of the numerical analysis. In addition to the elastic–plastic finite element model, an approximate theoretical model based on an energy method is developed. The combination of large deflections and elastic effects removes the restrictions imposed by the rigid-plastic theory, and provides the possibility for a better comparison with the data obtained from the experimental tests. Results from each of these approaches are compared with those from experiments. It is concluded that a non-linear, elastic–plastic transient analysis is needed to predict the deformation response resulting from the impulse loading of cantilever beams.