Three-Dimensional Vibrations of Truncated Hollow Cones

Abstract

This work presents a three-dimensional (3-D) method of analysis for determining the free vibration frequencies and corresponding mode shapes of truncated hollow cones of arbitrary thickness and having arbitrary boundary conditions. It also supplies the first known numerical results from 3-D analysis for such problems. The analysis is based upon the Ritz method. The vibration modes are separated into their Fourier components in terms of the circumferential coordinate. For each Fourier component, displacements are expressed as algebraic polynomials in the thickness and slant length coordinates. These polynomials satisfy the geometric boundary conditions exactly. Because the displacement functions are mathematically complete, upper bound values of the vibration frequencies are obtained that are as close to the exact values as desired. This convergence is demonstrated for a representative truncated hollow cone configuration where six-digit exactitude in the frequencies is achieved. The method is then used to obtain accurate and extensive frequencies for two sets of completely free, truncated hollow cones, one set consisting of thick conical shells and the other being tori having square-generating cross sections. Frequencies are presented for combinations of two values of apex angles and two values of inner hole radius ratios for each set of problems.