Sensitivity analyses for curved viscoelastic da Vinci-Euler- Bernoulli-Winkler beams vs. continuum mechanics formulations.

Comparison analyses are conducted for straight and curved viscoelastic beams based on da Vinci-Euler-Bernoulli-Winkler strength of materials prescriptions and on rigorous formulations in terms of 3-D field equations. The concepts of elastic straight and curved beam analyses are well established. In the present paper, these geometric principles are extended to linear viscoelastic materials. The beams are considered subjected to un-symmetric bending as well as to thermal expansions. The distinct conditions leading to shear center and neutral axis motions in time, previously observed in straight beams are investigated. The applicability of the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle (analogy) in terms of integral transforms is demonstrated by application to several simulations. Comparison studies are based on pure bending loading configurations as these offer the least distinct geometric deformation patterns and focus primarily on the influence of constitutive relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]