Study of bending of laminated composite shells. Part II: shells with a cutout

The bending behaviour of axisymmetric laminated composite shells with a cut out has been investigated using the finite element method based on a higher -order shear deformation theory. The governing equations and the finite ele ment formulation are presented in Part I. Results are presented showing the distributions of deflection and stresses in orthotropic and laminated symm etric/anti-symmetric axisymmetric spherical shells with a central circular cutout with simply supported and clamped boundary conditions subjected to u niform normal pressure. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.