The dynamic axisymmetric behavior of clamped laminated composite spher
ical caps subjected to suddenly applied loads is investigated using an
eight-noded quadrilateral doubly curved shear flexible shell element
based on the field-consistency approach. Geometric nonlinearity is con
sidered using von Karman's strain-displacement relations. The solution
is obtained using the Wilson-theta numerical integration scheme. The
pressure corresponding to a sudden jump in the maximum average deflect
ion in the time history of the shell structure is taken as dynamic buc
kling pressure. A detailed parametric study is carried out to bring ou
t the effects of shell geometries and material properties, number of l
ayers, lamination schemes, and type of loading on a dynamic buckling l
oad.