SCALE MODELS FOR LAMINATED CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS SUBJECTED TO AXIAL-COMPRESSION

This study investigates problems associated with the design of scaled down models. Such study is important since it provides the necessary s caling laws, and the factors which affect the accuracy of the scale mo dels. For better understanding the applicability of scaled down models in designing laminated composite structures, an analytical investigat ion was undertaken to assess the feasibility of their use. Employment of similitude theory to establish similarity among structural systems can save considerable expense and time, provided that the proper scali ng laws are found and validated. In this study the limitation and acce ptable interval of all parameters and corresponding scale factors are investigated. Particular emphasis is placed on the case of buckling of cross-ply cylindrical shells under uniaxial compressive loads. Both c omplete and partial similarity are discussed. This analytical study in dicates that distorted models with a different number of layers and ge ometries than those of the prototype can predict the behavior of the p rototype with good accuracy. However, it is shown that a scaled down m odel with different material properties than those of the prototype is incapable of predicting the response of the prototype. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.