NONLINEAR FREE FLEXURAL VIBRATIONS OF LAMINATED CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS

This paper deals with large-amplitude free flexural vibrations of laminated composite circular cylindrical shells. The formulation is based on first-order shear deformation theory and Lagrange's equation of motion. The nonlinearity due to finite deformation of the shell is included in the formulation. Amplitude-frequency relationships are obtained through dynamic response history using the Wilson-theta numerical integration scheme. An element based on the field consistency approach is used to investigate the nonlinear behaviour of cylindrical shells. Detailed numerical results based on various parameters are presented for orthotropic, cross-ply and angle-ply laminated circular cylindrical shells with different boundary conditions.