ANALYSIS OF A LONG THICK ORTHOTROPIC CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL-SHELL PANEL

An exact three-dimensional elasticity solution has been obtained for a n infinitely long, thick transversely isotropic circular cylindrical s hell panel, simply supported along the longitudinal edges and subjecte d to a radial patch load. Using a set of three displacement functions, the boundary value problem is reduced to Bessel's differential equati on. Numerical results are presented for different thickness to mean ra dius ratios and semicentral angles of the shell panel. Classical and f irst-order shear deformation orthotropic shell theories have been exam ined in comparison with the present elasticity solution.