GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR ANALYSIS OF TIMOSHENKO BEAMS UNDER THERMOMECHANICAL LOADINGS

Considering the axial extension and the transversal shear deformation, geometrically nonlinear governing equations for static deformations of Timoshenko beams subjected to thermal as well as mechanical loadings are formulated. As an example, on the basis of the governing equations, thermal postbuckling response of an immovably pinned-fixed Timoshenko beam subjected to a static transversely nonuniform temperature rise is numerically analyzed by using a shooting method. Characteristic curves showing the relationships between the beam deformation and temperature rise are presented. The thermal postbuckled configurations and the equilibrium paths of the beam are presented. In particular, the effects of shear deformation on the buckling response are quantitatively investigated. The numerical results show, as we know, that shear deformation effects become significant with decrease of the slenderness and with increase of the shear flexibility.