Bending of cord composite cylindrical shells

An analytical method for determining the load-deformation behavior of cord composite cylindrical shells is developed by considering the mechanics of the matrix, the cords, and the shell. To illustrate the method, a circular cylindrical shell with a single ply of uniformly spaced cords parallel to the shell axis is considered. The differential equations for the displacements are derived. These equations are solved analytically in closed form for a shell with the cords on the middle surface and subjected to axisymmetric loading. The deformations are strongly dependent upon the properties of the constituents, including the extension-twist coupling of the cords, and the geometry, boundary conditions, and loading. [S0021-8936(00)02701-X].