Analysis of parametrically excited laminated composite joined conical-cylindrical shells

The dynamic instability analysis of a joined conical and cylindrical shell subjected to periodic in-plane load is investigated using C-0 two-noded sheer flexible shell element. The formulation is based on first-order shear deformation theory. The present model accounts for in-plane and rotary inertia effects. The instability regions are determined based on the principle of Bolotin's method. The boundaries of the principal instability region obtained here are conveniently represented in the non-dimensional excitation frequency - non-dimensional load amplitude plane. The influence of various parameters such as orthotropicity, cone angle, lay-up, combinations of different sections, thickness ratio, circumferential wave number, static load, and external pressure on the dynamic stability regions of cross-ply laminates is brought out. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.