Nonlinear deformation and stability of discretely-supported egg-shaped cylindrical composite shells under transversal bending and internal pressure

Abstract

A finite-element definition of the stability problem for discretely-supported egg-shaped cylindrical shells made of a composite material is examined by considering the moments and nonlinearity of their sub-critical stressed-deformed state. The finite elements of a shell with natural curvature and beam-type supported elements developed by authors are used. The numerical algorithm for investigating the nonlinear deformation and stability of the shells is generated. Stability under transversal bending and internal pressure is studied for a cylindrical stringer composite shell with an oval-shape cross section. The effect of internal pressure, ovality, and nonlinearity of deformation, support discreteness and nonuniform stiffness is revealed.