Buckling of conical composite shells

A semi-analytical approach is proposed to obtain the linear buckling response of conical composite shells under axial compression load. A first order shear deformation shell theory along with linear strain–displacement relations is assumed. Using the principle of minimum total potential energy, the governing equilibrium equations are found and Ritz method is applied to solve them. Parametric study is performed by finding the effect of cone angle and fiber orientation on the critical buckling load of the conical composite shells.