On the influence of membrane inertia and shear deformation on the geometrically non-linear vibrations of open, cylindrical, laminated clamped shells

It is the objective of this work to verify the validity of different approximations in the analysis of geometrically non-linear vibrations of open, cylindrical, laminated, fully clamped shells. Namely, it is intended to verify if membrane inertia and transverse shear deformation can be neglected and when. p-version finite elements with hierarchic basis functions are employed to define the models. A simple comparison of the different stiffness and mass terms is carried out first, to assess the relative importance of membrane inertia and shear deformation. Then a few numerical tests are carried out in non-linear vibrations by solving the ordinary differential equations of motion by Newmark’s method. It is found that what are usually considered to be thin panels actually require the consideration of shear deformation.