In this study, a finite element analysis was
conducted using ANSYS commercial software.
The 3-D model was developed and a typical
meshing was generated by using Shell 99
element. The drive shaft was fixed at both ends
and it was subjected to torque in the middle. The
torque transmission capability of the drive shaft
was taken as 3000 N.m, the length and the outer
diameter here were considered as 2 meters and
120 millimeters, respectively [1]. The shaft rotates
at a constant speed about its longitudinal axis. The
shaft has a uniform, circular cross section. The
shaft was perfectly balanced, all damping and
nonlinear effects were excluded. The stress-strain
relationship for composite material is linear and
elastic; hence, Hook’s law is applicable for
composite materials. Since lamina is thin and no
out-of-plane loads were applied, it was
considered as under the plane stress. Since the
fiber volume of 60% is the standard fiber volume
fraction for most industries, it was selected for
composite drive shaft [11]. Table 1 shows the
mechanical properties of each layer of the
laminate. Among the various laminate
configurations, [±45] laminates possess the highest
shear modulus and are the primary laminate type
used in purely torsional applications [6]. To meet
the minimum resonance frequency, the drive shaft
must have an adequate axial modulus and since
the axial modulus of a [±45] laminate is rather low,
00 layer had to be added to the lay-up to improve
the resonance frequency [10]. Regarding the
design correlations the appropriate fiber
arrangement of the composite drive shaft was
obtained as[90 / 0 / 450 ]
4
0 0 .