Harmonic reproducing kernel particle method for free vibration analysis of rotating cylindrical shells

A meshfree approach-the harmonic reproducing kernel particle method is proposed for the free vibration analysis of rotating cylindrical shells. The reproducing kernel particle estimation is employed in hybridized form with harmonic functions, to approximate the two-dimensional displacement field. This is the first instance in which a meshless technique has been adopted for rotating shell dynamics. This technique provides ease of enforcing various types of boundary conditions and concurrently is able to capture the traveling modes. The effects of centrifugal and Coriolis forces as well as the initial hoop tension due to rotation are all taken into account in the present formulation. This study examines in detail the effects of different boundary conditions on the frequency characteristics of rotating shells. The present results, wherever possible, are verified by comparison against results available in the open literature, In general, close agreement between the authors' results and those of others has been found. Further, results presented here in selective parametric studies may be used as benchmarks for future related works. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.