Free vibrations of laminated composite non-circular thick cylindrical shells

An exact solution procedure is presented for analyzing free vibrations of laminated composite, noncircular thick cylindrical shells. Based on the thick lamination theory considering the shear deformation and rotary inertia, equations of motion and boundary conditions are obtained from the stationary conditions of the Lagrangian (Hamilton’s principle). The equations of motion are solved exactly by using power series expansions for the displacements and rotations of symmetrically laminated, cross-ply shells having both ends freely supported. Frequencies are presented for a set of elliptical cylindrical shells having various laminae stacking sequences. The effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia are discussed by comparing the results from the present theory with those from the classical laminated shell theory (thin laminated shell theory). Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd