Stability Analysis of a Tapered Symmetric Sandwich Beam Resting on a Variable Pasternak Foundation

The static and dynamic stability analysis of a three-layered, tapered and symmetric sandwich beam resting on a variable Pasternak foundation and undergoing a periodic axial load has been carried out for two different boundary conditions by using a computational method. The governing equation of motion has been derived by using Hamilton’s principle along with generalized Galerkin’s method. The effects of elastic foundation parameter, core-loss factor, the ratio of length of the beam to the thickness of the elastic layer, the ratio of thickness of shear-layer of Pasternak foundation to the length of the beam, different modulus ratios, taper parameter, core thickness parameter, core-density parameter and geometric parameter on the non-dimensional static buckling load and on the regions of parametric instability are studied. This type of study will help the designers to achieve a system with high strength to weight ratio and better stability which are the desirable parameters for many modern engineering applications, such as in the attitude stability of spinning satellites, stability of helicopter components, stability of space vehicles etc.