Free vibration of transversely isotropic solid and thick-walled toroidal shells

The frequency of vibration of thick-walled toroidal shells is studied using a finite element formulation wherein the finite element is derived directly in toroidal coordinates. Hexagonal crystals of thallium and cadmium are used as representative transversely isotropic materials. The shell is assumed to be transversely isotropic with respect to the toroidal radial direction, and results based on that assumption are contrasted to a shell that is transversely isotropic with respect to the circumferential toroidal coordinate. It is established that an analysis based on a toroidal coordinate system is superior to an axisymmetric coordinate system and has some advantages over a commercial finite element code. Tables of results are presented that compare frequency of vibration for the above mentioned transversely isotropic materials and isotropic materials.