BENDING OF LAMINATED ORTHOTROPIC CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS - AN ELASTICITY APPROACH

Three-dimensional elasticity solutions are obtained for finite length, cross-ply cylindrical shells, simply supported at both ends and subjected to transverse sinusoidal loading. By assuming suitable displacement functions, the boundary value problem is reduced to a set of coupled ordinary differential equations and then solved by the method of Frobenius. Displacement and stresses are presented for 90°, (90°/0°), (90°/0°/90°), (90°/0°/90°/0°/90°)s shells. Deviations from laminated plate behaviour are described. The method presented is shown to give results identical to those of a stress function approach for a plane strain problem. The paper includes extensive tabulated results to serve as a basis for assessment of improved shell theories. © 1990.