Nonlinear oscillations and stability of parametrically excited cylindrical shells

Based on Donnell shallow shell equations, the nonlinear vibrations and dynamic instability of axially loaded circular cylindrical shells under both static and harmonic forces is theoretically analyzed. First the problem is reduced to a finite degree-of-freedom one by using the Galerkin method; then the resulting set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations of motion are solved by the Runge-Kutta method. To study the nonlinear behavior of the shell, several numerical strategies were used to obtain Poincare maps, Lyapunov exponents, stable and unstable fixed points, bifurcation diagrams, and basins of attraction. Particular attention is paid to two dynamic instability phenomena that may arise under these loading conditions: parametric excitation of flexural modes and escape from the pre-buckling potential well. Calculations are carried out for the principal and secondary instability regions associated with the lowest natural frequency of the shell. Special attention is given to the determination of the instability boundaries in control space and the identification of the bifurcational events connected with these boundaries. The results clarify the importance of modal coupling in the post-buckling solution and the strong role of nonlinearities on the dynamics of cylindrical shells.