Tilting analysis of circular elastic layers interleaving with flexible reinforcements

Bonding with reinforcements can increase the stiffness of elastic layers in the normal direction. The flexibility effect of the reinforcement on the bonded elastic layers of a circular cross-section subjected to pure bending moment is analyzed through a theoretical approach. Based on two kinematics assumptions in the elastic layers, the closed-form solutions of the horizontal displacements in the elastic layers and the reinforcements are solved using the governing equations established by stress equilibrium in the elastic layers and the reinforcements. Through these solved displacements, the tilting stiffness of the bonded elastic layer, the shear stress on the bonding surfaces, and the internal forces of the reinforcements are derived in closed forms.