Analysis of stresses in a simply-supported composite beam with stiffened lateral ends using displacement-potential field

The elastic field of a stiffened simply-supported fiber-reinforced composite beam is investigated using an analytical scheme based on the displacement-potential field. A single fourth-order partial differential equation of equilibrium is solved to determine the potential field of the present mixed-boundary-value elastic problem, and the expressions of relevant displacement and stress components are derived in terms of the potential function using Fourier series. Solutions are obtained for two different types of stiffeners at the opposing lateral ends of the beam, where the fibers are assumed to be directed along the beam axis. The effect of beam aspect ratio is also investigated on the state of stresses at different critical sections of the beam. The soundness and accuracy of the present solutions are verified through a comparison made with the corresponding solutions of classical beam theory and standard computational method.