A temperature-insensitive FBG acceleration sensor with sinusoid-shaped curved beams

Purpose This study aims to solve the problem of temperature cross sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating in structural health monitoring, proposing a novel acceleration sensor based on strain chirp effect which is insensitive to temperature. Design/methodology/approach A kind of M-shaped double cantilever beam structure is developed. The fiber grating is pasted in the gradient strain region of the beam, and the chirp effect is produced under the action of non-uniform stress, and then the change of acceleration is converted into the change of reflection bandwidth to demodulate and eliminate the temperature interference. Through theoretical analysis, simulation and experimental verification with rectangular beam sensor. Findings The results show that the sinusoidal curvature beam sensor is insensitive to the change of temperature and is more likely to produce chirp effect. The sensitivity is about 317 pm/g, and the natural frequency is 56 Hz. Originality/value This paper fulfils an insensitive to temperature changes sensor which has effectively solved the temperature cross-sensitivity problem in building structure health monitoring.

Earthquake response of linear-elastic arch-frames using exact curved beam formulations

PurposeThis study aims to obtain earthquake responses of linear-elastic multi-span arch-frames by using exact curved beam formulations. For this purpose, the dynamic stiffness method (DSM) which uses exact mode shapes is applied to a three-span arch-frame considering axial extensibility, shear deformation and rotational inertia for both columns and curved beams. Using exact free vibration properties obtained from the DSM approach, the arch-frame model is simplified into an equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) system to perform earthquake response analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe dynamic stiffness formulations of curved beams for free vibrations are validated by using the experimental data in the literature. The free vibrations of the arch-frame model are investigated for various span lengths, opening angle and column dimensions to observe their effects on the dynamic behaviour. The calculated natural frequencies via the DSM are presented in comparison with the results of the finite element method (FEM). The mode shapes are presented. The earthquake responses are calculated from the modal equation by using Runge-Kutta algorithm.FindingsThe displacement, base shear, acceleration and internal force time-histories that are obtained from the proposed approach are compared to the results of the finite element approach where a very good agreement is observed. For various span length, opening angle and column dimension values, the displacement and base shear time-histories of the arch-frame are presented. The results show that the proposed approach can be used as an effective tool to calculate earthquake responses of frame structures having curved beam elements.Originality/valueThe earthquake response of arch-frames consisting of curved beams and straight columns using exact formulations is obtained for the first time according to the best of the author’s knowledge. The DSM, which uses exact mode shapes and provides accurate free vibration analysis results considering each structural members as one element, is applied. The complicated structural system is simplified into an equivalent SDOF system using exact mode shapes obtained from the DSM and earthquake responses are calculated by solving the modal equation. The proposed approach is an important alternative to classical FEM for earthquake response analysis of frame structures having curved members.

On the deformation of laminated composite and sandwich curved beams

Plenty of research articles are available on the static deformation analysis of laminated straight beams using refined shear deformation theories. However, research on the deformation of laminated curved beams with simply supported boundary conditions is limited and needs more attention nowadays. With this objective, the present study deals with the static analysis of laminated composite and sandwich beams curved in elevation using a new quasi-3D polynomial type beam theory. The theory considers the effects of both transverse shear and normal strains, i.e. thickness stretching effects. In the present theory, axial displacement has expanded up to the fifth-order polynomial in terms of thickness coordinates to effectively account for the effects of curvature and deformations. The present theory satisfies the zero traction boundary condition on the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. Governing differential equations and associated boundary conditions are established by using the Principal of virtual work. Navier’s solution technique is used to obtain displacements and stresses for simply supported beams curved in elevation and subjected to uniformly distributed load. The present results can be benefited to the upcoming researchers.