FOURIER SOLUTION TO HIGHER-ORDER THEORY-BASED LAMINATED SHELL BOUNDARY-VALUE PROBLEM

A complete (i.e., particular as well as complementary) Fourier solutio n to the boundary-value problem of static response under transverse lo ad of a general cross-ply thick doubly curved panel of rectangular pla nform is presented. A boundary-discontinuous double Fourier series app roach is used to solve a system of five partial differential equations , generated by a higher order shear deformation theory-based shell ana lysis, with the SS2-type of simply supported boundary condition prescr ibed at all four edges. Unlike the conventional Navier and Levy type a pproaches which can only provide particular solutions, the present met hod is general enough to provide the complete (particular as well as t he complementary) solution for any arbitrary combination of admissible boundary conditions with almost equal ease. The numerical accuracy of the solution is ascertained by studying the convergence characteristi cs of deflections and moments of cross-ply spherical panels and also b y comparison with the available first-order shear deformation theory- and classical lamination theory-based analytical solutions. Hitherto u navailable important numerical results presented include sensitivity o f the predicted response quantities of interest to lamination, boundar y constraint, and thickness and curvature effects, as well as their in teractions.