BUCKING AND VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE PLATE AND SHELL STRUCTURES USING THE PASSAS SOFTWARE PACKAGE

A description is given of the PASSAS finite strip software package for predicting the buckling stresses and natural frequencies of composite laminated prismatic plate and shell structures of complicated cross-s ection and general lamination. The basic equations underpinning the de velopment of the properties of a transversely curved finite strip are presented in the context of first-order shear-deformation shell theory and, by reduction, in the context of thin shell theory. The B-spline finite strip method is used and this enables the specification of a wi de range of end conditions. The major features of the software package are described, and these include a range of strip models, the use of multi-level substructuring techniques across the structure, including superstrips, and the use of an efficient and reliable solution procedu re. Results are presented of the application of PASSAS to the solution of a small number of shell buckling and vibration problems. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.