Transient analysis of bio-inspired helicoidal laminated composite beams under moving loads

Bio-inspired helicoidal laminated composite (BIHLC) beams provide significant advantages over traditional laminated composites, particularly due to their enhanced resistance to delamination and improved energy absorption. However, their transient behavior under dynamic loading has not been extensively studied. This study presents a comprehensive transient analysis of BIHLC beams subjected to moving concentrated loads, employing various beam theories. The finite element method is utilized for numerical implementation, incorporating Newmark’s method for time integration. Verification studies are conducted, including the transient analysis of composite beams subjected to uniformly distributed loads and fiber-metal laminated beams under moving concentrated loads. A detailed parametric study investigates the effects of boundary conditions, lay-up architecture, load velocity, and beam slenderness. The study identifies optimal fiber configurations within helicoidal families and highlights the critical role of theory selection and lay-up design in ensuring reliable dynamic performance. The findings provide benchmark data and valuable insights for designing next-generation adaptive composite structures under transient loading conditions.