FREE-VIBRATION OF THICK-WALLED LAMINATED CONICAL TUBES

A semi-analytical method is used to calculate the frequencies of free vibration of thick-walled laminated conical tubes. For discretization, we use Fourier series in the circumferential direction and finite ele ments in the axial direction. This study formulates strain energy base d on a thick-walled theory and takes transverse shear deformation into account. The present method can be applied to the free vibration anal ysis of any axisymmetric composite tube or shell since they can be app roximately divided into a series of conical segments. The validity and accuracy of the present method are demonstrated by comparing the natu ral frequency predictions with experimental measurements.