Structural Analyses of Thick-Walled Cross-Ply Laminated FRP Cylindrical Shells.

Abstract

A simple and accurate finite cylindrical element method is formulated for obtaining stresses and deformations in thick-walled cross-ply laminated FRP cylindrical shells. The effects of thermal residual stresses, the boundary conditions at both ends and the stacking sequence of unidirectional prepregs on the design of thick-walled cross-ply laminated FRP cylindrical shells are discussed. Although the thermal residual strain reduces the maximum tensile radial strain, its maximum is still higher and causes an interlaminar failure of the thick-walled cross-ply laminated FRP cylindrical shell. The optimum stacking sequence of these FRP cylindrical shells among the five stacking sequence models is also proposed to give the smallest value of radial strain.