Linear Static and Free Vibration Analyses of Laminated Composite Spherical Shells

Abstract

Linear static and free vibration behavior of laminated composite square base spherical shell panel has been investigated using finite element method. The present shell panel model is developed using ANSYS parametric design language code in ANSYS platform. The model is discretised using an eight nodded serendipity element (SHELL281) with six degrees of freedom per node from ANSYS element library. The responses are obtained using Gauss elimination and Block-Lanczos steps for the static and free vibration analysis, respectively. The results are computed using present developed model and the convergence test has also been done. Based on the convergence new results are obtained and compared with published results. The numerical simulations done for different parameters showing that the parameters such as thickness ratios, curvature ratios and lay up sequences have significant effect on transverse central deflections and fundamental free vibration frequencies of the shell structures.