REISSNER NEW MIXED VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLE APPLIED TO LAMINATED CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS

Reissner's new mixed variational theorem, which allows independent interpolation, through the thickness, of the three transverse stresses besides that of the three displacements, is applied here to derive a higher-order theory of laminated orthotropic cylindrical shells. The accuracy of the theory is verified by comparison with three-dimensional elasticity solutions. It is shown that Reissner's principle does not directly lead to accurate transverse shear stress predictions, but requires the use of the equilibrium equations of three-dimensional elasticity as is common in the conventional displacement approach.