FINITE-ELEMENT FREE-VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF POINT SUPPORTED LAMINATED COMPOSITE CYLINDRICAL-SHELLS

A finite element analysis for the free vibration behaviour of point su pported laminated composite cylindrical shells is presented. Eight-nod ed curved quadrilateral isoparametric elements are used. The formulati on is based on the assumptions of the first order shear deformation th eory for thin, shallow shells. Some of the results obtained in the ana lysis are compared with those present in the existing literature. Seve ral numerical results are also presented for selected material paramet ers, shell geometry and support spacing to study the free vibration ch aracteristics of various point supported laminated composite cylindric al shells.