Boundary element analysis of composite materials

Abstract

Nowdays the numerical simulation of mechanical and structural problems in engineering is the method of analysis and design more widespread. Compared to the use of analytical solutions, the numerical simulation is characterized by a great exibility, due to the possibility to analyze complex geometries and models. The possibility of nding exact solutions are limited to one-dimensional problems or problems with multiple variables with special symmetries. In the context of the problems of linear elasticity, the situation of isotropic material simpli es the analysis in closed form for the presence of only two elastic coef- cients in the constitutive equations. Recently, the interest for the analysis of problems with non-isotropic constitutive equations has been renewed by the availability of new materials suitable for the production of structural elements. In particular, the technical interest in the case of materials with orthotropic constitutive equations. This work is about the analytical solution of the plane problem for orthotropic materials using a model based on the discretization of the boundary. In order to de ne the context of the model developed, there is a brief introduction about the method of boundary elements and some considerations on the use of orthotropic materials in structural elements.