The effect of non-homogeneity on the stability of laminated orthotropic conical shells subjected to hydrostatic pressure

Abstract

In this study, the stability of laminated homogeneous and non-homogeneous orthotropic truncated conical shells with freely supported edges under a uniform hydrostatic pressure is investigated. It is assumed that the composite material is orthotropic and the material properties depend only on the thickness coordinate. The basic relations, the modified Donnell type stability and compatibility equations have been obtained for laminated non-homogeneous orthotropic truncated conical shells. Applying Galerkin method to the foregoing equations, the expression for the critical hydrostatic pressure is obtained. The appropriate formulas for the single-layer and laminated, cylindrical and complete conical shells made of homogeneous and non-homogeneous, orthotropic and isotropic materials are found as a special case. Finally, effects of non-homogeneity, number and ordering of layers and variations of shell characteristics on the critical hydrostatic pressure are investigated.